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Prep Cook Jobs in Novato, CA (NOW HIRING)

Prep Cook

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$18.21 - $23/hr

Prep Cook We build jobs that advance into lifelong careers. Start crafting yours today. You give your all to delight our Guests, we serve up the ingredients for you to live your best life. * Flexible ...

Prep Cook

San Bruno, CA · On-site

$15.50 - $22/hr

Prep Cook We build jobs that advance into lifelong careers. Start crafting yours today. You give your all to delight our Guests, we serve up the ingredients for you to live your best life. * Flexible ...

Prep Cook

Santa Rosa, CA · On-site

$18.21 - $23/hr

Prep Cook We build jobs that advance into lifelong careers. Start crafting yours today. You give your all to delight our Guests, we serve up the ingredients for you to live your best life. * Flexible ...

We need a Prep Cook who can heat up the kitchen, works well in a fast-paced environment, and is responsive to the needs of our clients. What you'll be doing * Setting up and sanitizing workstations;

Prep Cook We build jobs that advance into lifelong careers. Start crafting yours today. You give your all to delight our Guests, we serve up the ingredients for you to live your best life. * Flexible ...

Prep Cook

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$19.18 - $21.18/hr

If so, then being a Prep Cook at CPK may be for you! Our team members bring California creativity to every meal by making each guest their top priority. They ensure that each guest has a memorable ...

Prep Cook

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$19.61/hr

Previous experience as a Line Cook, Prep Cook, or similar kitchen role in a high-volume restaurant * Strong understanding of culinary techniques, food safety, and kitchen operations * Ability to work ...

Prep Cook

San Francisco, CA

$19.18 - $21.18/hr

If so, then being a Prep Cook at CPK may be for you! Our team members bring California creativity to every meal by making each guest their top priority. They ensure that each guest has a memorable ...

Prep Cook

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$16.75 - $21.25/hr

Previous experience as a Line Cook, Prep Cook, or similar kitchen role in a high-volume restaurant * Strong understanding of culinary techniques, food safety, and kitchen operations * Ability to work ...

Commissary Kitchen Prep Cook

San Francisco, CA

$16.25 - $20.50/hr

Prep Cooks will prepare, serve, sell, and maintain food/beverage items. This includes, taking orders, receiving vendor deliveries, prepare licensed food packages, and cleaning of food items. Prep ...

Commissary Kitchen Prep Cook

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$16.25 - $20.50/hr

Prep Cooks will prepare, serve, sell, and maintain food/beverage items. This includes, taking orders, receiving vendor deliveries, prepare licensed food packages, and cleaning of food items. Prep ...

Prep Cook

Yountville, CA · On-site

$22 - $26/hr

Prep Cook positions are available. * Health benefits are available. * Training will begin immediately. * Full and part-time opportunities available. These positions involve high volume, a la minute ...

Prep Cook

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$19.61/hr

Previous experience as a Line Cook, Prep Cook, or similar kitchen role in a high-volume restaurant * Strong understanding of culinary techniques, food safety, and kitchen operations * Ability to work ...

Prep Cook

Yountville, CA · On-site

$22 - $26/hr

Prep Cook positions are available. * Health benefits are available. * Training will begin immediately. * Full and part-time opportunities available. These positions involve high volume, a la minute ...

Join Our Team as a Line and Prep Cook! Are you passionate about creating delicious dishes and working in a fast-paced kitchen environment? Cosmo Delight Inc., located in vibrant Berkeley, CA, is ...

Previous prep cooking experience and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system knowledge is preferred. * Fixed Pay Rate: $23.00 per hour. *Internal Employee Referral Bonus Available We ...

Prep Cook

Emeryville, CA · On-site

$20/hr

We call the Prep Cooks our Utility Chefs. We need a Utility Chef who takes pride in the details that make every bowl, wrap, and plate goop Certified Clean. You'll be the backbone of our kitchen ...

Showing results 41-60

Prep Cook information

See Novato, CA salary details

$11

$18

$23

How much do prep cook jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for prep cook in Novato, CA is $18.42, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.11 and $20.34 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.

What cities near Novato, CA are hiring for Prep Cook jobs?

Cities near Novato, CA with the most Prep Cook job openings:

Infographic showing various Prep Cook job openings in Novato, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 46% Full Time, and 54% Part Time. Highlights an 66% Physical, and 34% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $38,308 per year, or $18.4 per hour.

$18.21 - $23/hr

Part-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 16 days ago


BJ's Restaurants rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 179 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

51st of 88 rated restaurants


Job description

Overview
Open interviews conducted daily - Walk-ins are Welcome
Hiring Immediately
We value Gracious Hospitality in everything we do, it starts with you! Our team members are the not-so-secret ingredient in crafting memorable moments and delivering the exhilarating brewhouse experience our Guests know us for.
Prep Cook
We build jobs that advance into lifelong careers. Start crafting yours today.
You give your all to delight our Guests, we serve up the ingredients for you to live your best life.
  • Flexible scheduling options
  • Fun, energetic and inclusive workplace
  • Career path programs to help you advance your career. We love promoting our team members!
  • Competitive pay with DailyPay option - Why wait for pay day when you don't have to?
  • Team Member dining discounts
  • Benefits designed for your holistic wellness:
    • Medical, dental, vision, and wellness programs (eligibility based on hours worked).
    • Flexible spending accounts, 401(k), and financial wellness plans.
    • Life, disability, accident, home, auto, and pet insurance.
    • Perks Spot discount program - save on entertainment, movie tickets and hundreds of products!

Responsibilities
Connect with our Guests by expertly executing recipes and crafting crave worthy menu items. You:
  • Set up cook stations.
  • Ensure prep items are always available on the cook line and restock as needed.
  • Prepare food items according to recipe, portion, and presentation specifications.
  • Maintain clean, sanitary, and organized cook stations, kitchen coolers, and food storage areas.

Requirements
Bring your Guest focused enthusiasm to our team today.
  • Do you thrive working in a fast-paced, collaborative, team-oriented environment?
  • Are you able to work with prep tools and have safe knife handling skills?
  • Do you have a food handler permit?
  • Are you 18 years of age or over?

Apply today!
About BJ's Restaurants
BJ's has been crafting memorable brewhouse experiences since our humble beginnings in Southern California in 1978. We pride ourselves in providing our Guests with food and beverages that exhilarates the senses and nourishes the soul. We are proud of our brewhouse legacy and take our craft seriously. Guests come to BJ's to experience our energetic brewhouse escape and make good times better. We can do that thanks to our dedicated team members, who take pride in providing every Guest with our signature gracious hospitality.
BJ's settings and the nature of our business require our team members meet the physical requirements to perform the job effectively, with or without accommodations.
BJ's Restaurants is an equal opportunity and E-Verify employer
#LI-DNI
USD $18.21 - USD $23.00 /Hr.

What BJ's Restaurants employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


BJs Restaurants logo

About BJs Restaurants

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At BJ's Restaurants, we serve our award-winning craft beer, a Southern California twist on deep dish pizza, the world-renowned dessert - the Pizookie, and much more. BJ's is a $1 billion public restaurant company and a growth concept with a winning track record of introducing new on-trend menu offerings and opening new restaurants. We offer guests a high-energy, contemporary setting to enjoy special moments with gold standard service. Now is your chance to join our talented team that delivers a differentiated menu and experience to guests across the U.S.

Industry

Food services and drinking places

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Huntington Beach, CA, US

Year founded

1978