Also called: pizzaiolo, pizza maker
What a pizza cook does
A pizza cook stretches dough, sauces, tops, and bakes pizzas to order in a hot oven, often a deck, conveyor, or wood-fired unit. You also manage the dough itself: mixing, portioning, proofing, and handling it so it stretches properly every day. Speed and consistency matter because a single pie holds up a table. In many shops the pizza cook also preps toppings, runs the oven, and handles takeout and delivery orders alongside the dine-in rush.
Pay snapshot: the BLS reports a national median of $17.98/hr for restaurant cooks, and $22.03/hr in the Boston metro. See the full salary breakdown.
Responsibilities
- Mix, portion, ball, and proof pizza dough according to the shop's recipe and schedule
- Stretch or roll dough by hand to the right size and thickness without tearing
- Sauce, cheese, and top pizzas to spec, using consistent portions
- Load and rotate pizzas in the oven and pull them at the right color and doneness
- Cut, box, or plate pizzas and get them to the pass or the counter on time
- Prep toppings, cheeses, and sauces, and keep the make line stocked
- Monitor oven temperature and hot spots and report equipment problems quickly
- Handle online, phone, and walk-in orders and coordinate with drivers and counter staff
- Label, date, and store dough and toppings safely and rotate stock
- Clean the oven area, peels, prep table, and floors during and after service
Requirements
- Experience making pizza in a restaurant or pizzeria is preferred
- Comfort with hand-stretching dough and working around a very hot oven
- Ability to stand, lift heavy dough boxes and flour bags, and work quickly in the heat
- Food handler card or ServSafe Food Handler certification is often required
- Ability to work evenings, weekends, and busy delivery periods
- Willingness to learn the shop's specific dough and oven
Skills
- Dough handling and stretching
- Oven management and timing
- Portion control on toppings
- Speed on the make line
- Fermentation basics
- Multitasking with phone and delivery orders
- Cleanliness around a hot station
Schedule
Pizza cooks typically work evenings, weekends, and game-day peaks, with an earlier shift for dough prep and opening tasks.
Pizza Cook job posting template
Copy this, replace the bracketed parts, and post it.
Pizza Cook - [Restaurant Name], [City] [Restaurant Name] in [City] is looking for a Pizza Cook to join our team. We make our dough [fresh daily/by hand] and bake in a [wood-fired/deck/conveyor] oven, and we care about every pie that leaves the shop. What you will do: - Make, portion, and stretch dough - Build and bake pizzas to order - Prep toppings and keep the make line stocked - Work with the counter and drivers on takeout and delivery - Keep the oven area clean and safe What we are looking for: - Pizza or kitchen experience preferred, but we will train the right person - Speed, consistency, and a good feel for timing - Comfort working in a hot kitchen - Food handler certification (or willingness to get it) - Availability for [Shift], including weekends What we offer: - [$XX-$XX/hr] plus [tips/tip share if applicable] - Free pizza on every shift - [Benefits, e.g. paid time off, flexible scheduling] - A path to lead pizzaiolo or kitchen lead Apply at [email] or stop by [Address].
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