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Prep Cook Jobs in Effingham, IL (NOW HIRING)

CHIPOTLE

Crew Member

Effingham, IL · On-site

$11 - $14.50/hr

So, whether you have experience as a dishwasher, cashier, server, host, bartender, cook, prep cook or no experience at all, we're always looking for passionate and enthusiastic people to join our ...

Golden Corral - Effingham/Springfield IL

Cook

Effingham, IL · On-site

$13 - $17.25/hr

The Cook is responsible for the quality, quantity, tastiness, and freshness of all Hot Choice Buffet products. The Cook pays special attention to speed, cleanliness, organization, and product ...

Myerscough Foods

Cook

Mattoon, IL

$16 - $19/hr

Cook Location: Stadium Grill, Mattoon, IL Department: Kitchen Reports to: Kitchen Manager Job Summary: Stadium Grill is seeking a passionate and skilled Cook to join our kitchen team. The ideal ...

Golden Corral

Cook

Effingham, IL · On-site

$13 - $17.25/hr

The Cook is responsible for the quality, quantity, tastiness, and freshness of all Hot Choice Buffet products. The Cook pays special attention to speed, cleanliness, organization, and product ...

Sonic

Cook

Mattoon, IL · On-site

$13.25 - $17.50/hr

As a SONIC Drive-In restaurant Cook, you will oversee the Appetite Satisfaction Department, which involves operating the following stations: Food Production, Grill, Fryer and other tasks if ...

Sonic Drive-In

Cook

Mattoon, IL · On-site

$13.25 - $17.50/hr

As a SONIC Drive-In restaurant Cook, you will oversee the Appetite Satisfaction Department, which involves operating the following stations: Food Production, Grill, Fryer and other tasks if ...

Sonic

Cook

Mattoon, IL · On-site

$13.25 - $17.50/hr

As a SONIC Drive-In restaurant Cook, you will oversee the Appetite Satisfaction Department, which involves operating the following stations: Food Production, Grill, Fryer and other tasks if ...

Palm Garden of Mattoon

Night Cook

Mattoon, IL · On-site

$15.50 - $16.50/hr

As a Night Cook, you will be responsible for preparing and serving delicious meals to our residents, while ensuring that our high standards of quality and safety are met. If you share our passion for ...

MERIDIAN SENIOR LIVING

Cook

Newton, IL · On-site

$14 - $14.50/hr

As a Cook, you will work closely with our Dining Services Manager and will be responsible for the Community's food ordering, preparation, and delivery as well as kitchen sanitation. Cook tasks in ...

Meridian Senior Living

Cook

Newton, IL · On-site

$14 - $14.50/hr

As a Cook, you will work closely with our Dining Services Manager and will be responsible for the Community's food ordering, preparation, and delivery as well as kitchen sanitation. Cook tasks in ...

Meridian Senior Living

Cook

Effingham, IL · On-site

$17/hr

As a Cook, you will work closely with our Dining Services Manager and will be responsible for the Community's food ordering, preparation, and delivery as well as kitchen sanitation. Cook tasks in ...

MERIDIAN SENIOR LIVING

Cook

Effingham, IL

$17/hr

As a Cook, you will work closely with our Dining Services Manager and will be responsible for the Community's food ordering, preparation, and delivery as well as kitchen sanitation. Cook tasks in ...

MERIDIAN SENIOR LIVING

Cook

Effingham, IL · On-site

$17/hr

As a Cook, you will work closely with our Dining Services Manager and will be responsible for the Community's food ordering, preparation, and delivery as well as kitchen sanitation. Cook tasks in ...

Meridian Senior Living

Cook

Effingham, IL · On-site

$17/hr

As a Cook, you will work closely with our Dining Services Manager and will be responsible for the Community's food ordering, preparation, and delivery as well as kitchen sanitation. Cook tasks in ...

Cracker Barrel

Cook

Mattoon, IL

$15 - $16.50/hr

As a Cook, you might be prepping ingredients, plating comfort food, or cooking up someone's new favorite meal. Whatever your role, you'll make food that tastes like home. So, if you're making ...

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Cook

Mattoon, IL

$15 - $16.50/hr

As a Cook, you might be prepping ingredients, plating comfort food, or cooking up someone's new favorite meal. Whatever your role, you'll make food that tastes like home. So, if you're making ...

Cracker Barrel

Cook

Effingham, IL · On-site

$15 - $17/hr

As a Cook, you might be prepping ingredients, plating comfort food, or cooking up someone's new favorite meal. Whatever your role, you'll make food that tastes like home. So, if you're making ...

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Cook

Mattoon, IL · On-site

$15 - $16.50/hr

As a Cook, you might be prepping ingredients, plating comfort food, or cooking up someone's new favorite meal. Whatever your role, you'll make food that tastes like home. So, if you're making ...

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All JobsPrep Cook JobsPrep Cook Jobs in Effingham, IL

Prep Cook information

See Effingham, IL salary details

$8

$14

$18

How much do prep cook jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for prep cook in Effingham, IL is $14.43, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.60 and $15.91 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a prep cook?

A prep cook works in a restaurant or private kitchen, preparing ingredients for other chefs to cook. As a prep cook, your responsibilities center on simplifying the cooking process for everyone in the kitchen. Your duties include cleaning, peeling, chopping, cutting, slicing, and dicing vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses, and other food. You are also responsible for maintaining health and safety standards in the kitchen, which is a responsibility of everyone on the staff. You need excellent knife skills to safely and quickly prepare food, and you need communication skills to follow instructions and collaborate with your coworkers. Experience working in a kitchen is helpful when you look for jobs as a prep cook, but a prep cook can sometimes be considered to be an entry-level position.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a prep cook, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Prep Cook, you need basic culinary skills, knowledge of food safety and sanitation, and experience with kitchen equipment, usually gained through on-the-job training or a culinary certificate. Familiarity with commercial kitchen tools such as slicers, mixers, and standardized recipes is common in this role. Strong attention to detail, time management, and teamwork are essential soft skills for handling multiple tasks efficiently. These abilities ensure high-quality food preparation, kitchen safety, and smooth operation during busy service periods.

What are some common challenges faced by prep cooks, and how can they be managed effectively?

Prep cooks often encounter challenges such as working in fast-paced environments, managing multiple tasks simultaneously, and maintaining consistency in food preparation. To manage these effectively, it’s important to develop strong time-management skills, stay organized, and communicate clearly with other kitchen staff. Building stamina and adaptability will also help handle peak hours, and being attentive to detail ensures quality and food safety standards are consistently met.

What is the difference between Prep Cook vs Line Cook?

AspectPrep CookLine Cook
ResponsibilitiesPrepares ingredients, washes, chops, and organizes supplies cooks dishes during service, manages specific station
Skills & CertificationsBasic cooking skills, food safety, knife skillsAdvanced cooking skills, station-specific knowledge
Work EnvironmentKitchen prep area, early shiftsHot line during service, fast-paced environment
Typical EmployerRestaurants, catering servicesRestaurants, hotels, catering

Prep cooks focus on preparing ingredients and organizing supplies, while line cooks handle cooking dishes during service. Both roles require food safety knowledge, but line cooks often need more advanced skills and work in a faster, high-pressure environment. Understanding these differences helps job seekers find the right culinary role.

Is a prep cook a hard job?

A prep cook role involves preparing ingredients and assisting with kitchen tasks, which can be physically demanding and require attention to detail. The job often involves standing for long periods, working quickly during busy hours, and following safety and hygiene standards. Experience with kitchen tools and time management skills can help manage the workload effectively.

What does a prep cook do?

A prep cook is responsible for preparing ingredients and basic dishes in a kitchen, such as chopping vegetables, measuring ingredients, and assembling components for chefs. They work in a fast-paced environment, often using knives, food processors, and other kitchen tools, and typically follow food safety and sanitation standards.
More about Prep Cook jobs

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For Prep Cook jobs in Effingham, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities near Effingham, IL are hiring for Prep Cook jobs?

Cities near Effingham, IL with the most Prep Cook job openings:

Prep Cook jobs near you
Infographic showing various Prep Cook job openings in Effingham, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 51% Full Time, 47% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 71% Physical, and 29% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $30,020 per year, or $14.4 per hour.

Crew Member

Effingham, IL • On-site

CHIPOTLE
Food Services and Drinking Places • 10K+ employees

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 1,998 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

9th of 20 rated casual dining restaurants

Free food

Recommended by students

Respectful managers

Learn more about CHIPOTLEexternal

$11 - $14.50/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

CULTIVATE A BETTER WORLD
Food served fast does not have to be a typical fast-food experience. Chipotle has always done things differently, both in and out of our restaurants. We are changing the face of fast food, starting conversations, and directly supporting efforts to shift the future of farming and food. We hope you will join us as we continue to learn, evolve, and shape what comes next on our mission to make better food accessible to everyone.
THE OPPORTUNITY
At Chipotle, we've created a better place to eat and work. Many employees start just expecting a paycheck but end up with a rewarding career. We provide exceptional training and a clear career path - over 80% of our managers were promoted from Crew. We prepare real food by hand every day in our restaurants. No freezers, microwaves or can openers to be found . We'll provide the training you need to feel confident working at any station - grill, cashier, prep, salsa and expo. We take pride in our exceptional customer service and it's up to each of our team members to create the friendly atmosphere that our customers expect and enjoy. So, whether you have experience as a dishwasher, cashier, server, host, bartender, cook, prep cook or no experience at all, we're always looking for passionate and enthusiastic people to join our team. If this sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, we'd love to meet you! See more details below and apply today.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU
  • Tuition assistance (100% coverage for select degrees or up to $5,250/year)

  • Free food (yes, really FREE )

  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Digital Tips

  • Paid time off

  • Holiday closures

  • Competitive compensation

  • Full and part-time opportunities

  • Opportunities for advancement (80% of managers started as Crew)

WHAT YOU'LL BRING TO THE TABLE
  • A friendly, enthusiastic attitude

  • Passion for helping and serving others (both customers and team members)

  • Desire to learn how to cook (a lot)

  • Be at least 16 years old

  • Ability to communicate in the primary language(s) of the work location

PAY TRANSPARENCY
Below is the base pay range for this position, which is also eligible for digital tips. Actual base pay may vary depending on skill level, experience and/or education. In addition to base pay, Chipotle offers a competitive benefits package. Visit https://jobs.chipotle.com/benefits for more details.
$15.25-16.25
WHO WE ARE
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Chipotle has restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany and is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants in North America and Europe. With employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit www.chipotle.com .
Chipotle Mexican Grill is an equal opportunity employer committed to fair employment practices at all levels of the organization without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. As a values-driven, people-first company, we are committed to fostering a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and have the opportunity to realize their full potential. All qualified applicants, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.
Qualified applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or certain state or local laws. Please contact ADAaccommodations@chipotle.com if you need an accommodation due to a disability to complete an application, job interview, and/or to otherwise participate in the hiring process. This email does not respond to non-accommodations related requests.
Chipotle logo

About Chipotle

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Chipotle has over 3,000 restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany and is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants. Chipotle is ranked on the Fortune 500 and is recognized on the 2022 list for Fortune's Most Admired Companies. With over 100,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit www. chipotle. com

Industry

Food services and drinking places and biotechnology research and development

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Newport Beach, CA, US

View All Chipotle Jobs

What Chipotle employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

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