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Test Kitchen Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Cook/Kitchen Stocker

Rockford, IL

$14 - $18.75/hr

Staff On Site currently seeking cook/kitchen stocker for busy social services organization. Must be ... Repetitive hand and arm movements when conducting tests or entering data.

Clean breakrooms and test kitchen appliances * Use water pressure equipment, foam, chlorine, quat sanitizer, degreaser, and other approved cleaning products * Use a squeegee to dry floors and move ...

Sanitation Technician

Chicago, IL · On-site

$18 - $20/hr

Clean breakrooms and test kitchen appliances * Use water pressure equipment, foam, chlorine, quat sanitizer, degreaser, and other approved cleaning products * Use a squeegee to dry floors and move ...

Lead Baker

Mount Prospect, IL · On-site

$26 - $29/hr

... kitchen * Maintain consistent quality, presentation, and production standards * Collaborate with ownership and the culinary team on seasonal menu development * Develop and test new baked goods ...

Sanitation Technician

Chicago, IL · On-site

$18 - $20/hr

Clean breakrooms and test kitchen appliances * Use water pressure equipment, foam, chlorine, quat sanitizer, degreaser, and other approved cleaning products * Use a squeegee to dry floors and move ...

Weighs, measures, and tests products to ensure quality standards, including temperature, weight, and fat tests. Records findings on reports. * Sets up the machine for daily production and assembles ...

Weighs, measures, and tests products to ensure quality standards, including temperature, weight, and fat tests. Records findings on reports. * Sets up the machine for daily production and assembles ...

Wash dishes, cookware, utensils, and kitchen equipment * Operate commercial dishwashing equipment ... I also understand that employment may be contingent on passing a drug and/or alcohol test, and if ...

Wash dishes, cookware, utensils, and kitchen equipmentOperate commercial dishwashing equipmentKeep ... I also understand that employment may be contingent on passing a drug and/or alcohol test, and if ...

Showing results 21-40

Test Kitchen information

See Illinois salary details

$12

$24

$38

How much do test kitchen jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for test kitchen in Illinois is $24.55, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.57 and $27.74 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a test kitchen?

A test kitchen is a professional space where chefs, food scientists, and culinary experts develop, test, and refine recipes, food products, and cooking techniques before they are released to the public. These kitchens are often used by food companies, restaurants, magazines, and appliance manufacturers to ensure quality, consistency, and safety. The work in a test kitchen involves experimenting with ingredients, adjusting cooking methods, and documenting results to create reliable and replicable recipes.

What are test kitchen jobs?

Test kitchen jobs focus on the preparation and use of ingredients, particularly when trying to create a new recipe for others to follow. These positions typically involve a significant amount of culinary expertise, and you may be asked to taste and cook a wide variety of new or unfamiliar foods. Many test kitchen jobs have additional requirements based on the needs of the company. For example, test kitchens for chain restaurants need to set up a supply chain for every ingredient, so there may be limits on the types of ingredients available. Other restaurants may work with less skilled chefs, so the recipes must be written to accommodate these skill levels. Balancing the creation of good food with operational limitations is one of the most important aspects of a test kitchen job.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in a test kitchen, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in a test kitchen often face challenges such as tight deadlines for recipe development, balancing creativity with strict nutritional or cost guidelines, and ensuring recipes are reproducible at scale. Collaboration with chefs, food scientists, and marketing teams is essential, as feedback loops can be fast-paced and iterative. Staying organized, maintaining clear documentation, and being open to constructive critique can help navigate these challenges and contribute to successful product launches.

What is the difference between Test Kitchen vs Test Engineer?

AspectTest KitchenTest Engineer
Required CredentialsExperience with testing tools, basic scripting, sometimes certifications in quality assuranceEngineering degree, certifications in testing or quality assurance, technical expertise
Work EnvironmentSoftware development teams, quality assurance labs, agile environmentsDevelopment teams, R&D departments, product testing labs
Industry UsageSoftware development, DevOps, continuous integrationSoftware, hardware, manufacturing industries
Common Search/ComparisonOften compared for testing roles in software projectsCompared for technical testing and quality assurance roles

Test Kitchen is primarily a testing tool used by developers and QA teams to automate and manage testing environments, especially in software development. Test Engineer, on the other hand, is a professional role involving designing, executing, and managing testing processes. While both focus on testing, Test Kitchen is a tool, and Test Engineer is a job title requiring broader technical skills and certifications.

How do I get a job in a test kitchen?

To get a job in a test kitchen, candidates typically need relevant culinary or food science experience, strong tasting and evaluation skills, and familiarity with recipe development and testing. Many positions require a culinary degree or related certification, along with the ability to work in a fast-paced environment and collaborate with a team.

What are the most commonly searched types of Test Kitchen jobs in Illinois?

The most popular types of Test Kitchen jobs in Illinois are:

What job categories do people searching Test Kitchen jobs in Illinois look for?

The top searched job categories for Test Kitchen jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Test Kitchen jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Test Kitchen job openings:

Infographic showing various Test Kitchen job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, and 21% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $51,056 per year, or $24.5 per hour.

Cook/Kitchen Stocker

Staff On Site

Rockford, IL

$14 - $18.75/hr

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Staff On Site currently seeking cook/kitchen stocker for busy social services organization. Must be able to prepare big batch meals. An excellent cook must be able to follow instructions in cooking and delivering well-prepared meals. They must be deft in moving around the kitchen and apt in multi-tasking.
ResponsibilitiesSet up workstations with all needed ingredients and cooking equipmentprepare ingredients to use in cooking (chopping and peeling vegetables, cutting meat etc.) cook food in various utensils or grillerscheck food while cooking to stir or turnkeep a sanitized and orderly environment in the kitchenensure all food and other items are stored properlycheck quality of ingredientssort and stock products on shelves, storerooms, refrigerators and freezers throughout the day, maintain FIFO and product dating, maintain cleanliness in the storage areas and kitchen, promptly unload trucks and deliveries, receive and store incoming products in a timely manner, follow established procedures to label, track, and stock items properly, ensure accurate product counts, must be able to stand for 8 hours, must be able to lift up to 50 pounds, other duties as assigned
 
SkillsProven experience as cook, experience in using cutting tools, cookware and bakewareknowledge of various cooking procedures and methods (grilling, baking, boiling etc.) ability to follow all sanitation proceduresability to work in a team, good communication skills.
Physical demands: Standing: Prolonged periods of standing on production floor (up to 8–10 hours per shift). Walking: Frequent walking around production and packaging areas. Lifting: Occasionally lift and move products or materials up to 25–50 lbs. Bending/Stooping: Regular bending to inspect lower-level machinery or products. Reaching: Frequent reaching over and around equipment or conveyors. Climbing: Occasionally climb steps or ladders to access equipment or inspection points. Repetitive Motions: Repetitive hand and arm movements when conducting tests or entering data.