How much does a prep cook make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics groups this role under Food Preparation Workers (SOC 35-2021). In its May 2025 wage survey, the national median was $16.98 an hour, or about $35,320 a year for full-time work, across roughly 893,600 people employed nationally. The middle of the market sits between $12.41 at the 10th percentile and $21.80 at the 90th.
Prep Cook pay in Boston
In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, the median for food preparation workers was $19.07 an hour ($39,660a year), reflecting Massachusetts' higher minimum wage and cost of living.
What moves the number
Prep cook pay depends on your local labor market, the size of the restaurant, and whether you bring real knife skill and recipe experience. Because prep cooks usually do not receive tips, hourly wages and any tip pool or shift meal benefits matter more. Moving into a line or specialty prep role usually raises pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. BLS figures for tipped roles may not capture all tip income. The BLS category is the closest official match for this role, not an exact one.
Posting this role? Listings with a real pay range get more applicants, and the Servestack jobs board requires one.