Prep Chef Jobs in California

A Prep Chef, also known as a preparation cook, is an integral part of the culinary industry responsible for preparing ingredients for the main cooks or chefs in a kitchen. Their tasks include washing, peeling, cutting, and chopping fruits, vegetables, and other food items, as well as cooking and preparing simple dishes. They also play a critical role in maintaining cleanliness and order in the kitchen, storing food appropriately, and ensuring the availability of fresh ingredients. Prep Chefs often work under the supervision of a head chef or cooks, thus they need to have a keen eye for detail, excellent time management skills, and the ability to work well in a fast-paced environment.

To qualify as a Prep Chef, a certificate or an associate's degree in culinary arts or a related field is usually required. However, critical skills such as culinary expertise, knife skills, understanding of food safety standards, and a strong familiarity with various cooking techniques are essential. In addition, they should also have good physical stamina to manage long hours of standing and handling kitchen equipment. Prior to progressing to the position of a Prep Chef, a person may start their culinary journey in roles such as a dishwasher, line cook or a kitchen assistant.

1-15 of 266 Jobs

Prep Cook

  • Sacramento, CA
  • 8 days ago
  • Sacramento, CA
  • 8 days ago

Are you ready for the best job you’ve ever had? Since Ruth’s Chris was founded in 1965, the most important ingredient in our recipe for success has been a team of hard-working people with a...

Prep Cook/Kitchen Wholesale Prep - Coffee Shop

  • San Diego, CA
  • 4 hours ago
  • San Diego, CA
  • 4 hours ago

About Us Cargo Cafe is a vibrant, community-focused coffee shop located in the heart of the Mission Valley. Are you passionate about crafting high-quality food in a kitchen environment? Our cafe...

Pizza Cook / Prep Cook

  • CA
  • 4 hours ago
  • CA
  • 4 hours ago

Small Salad..Wood Fired Wings. Part Time...

Seasonal Cold Line Prep Cook

  • Mountain View, CA
  • 4 hours ago
  • Mountain View, CA
  • 4 hours ago

Strong knife skills and understanding of kitchen safety. Able to keep up in a high-volume, team-driven environment. Must speak and understand English....

Prep Cook ASC20250430

  • Santa Maria, CA
  • 4 hours ago
  • Santa Maria, CA
  • 4 hours ago

Prepare simple dishes such as salads, entrees etc. Place food in warming trays or refrigerated storage as appropriate. Use manual and electric equipment for food preparation....

Grocery Butcher

  • Laguna Niguel, CA
  • 5 hours ago
  • Laguna Niguel, CA
  • 5 hours ago

Successfully completed WFM Butcher Apprentice Program, or an equivalent training program.* * UK Exceptions may apply Physical Requirements/Working Conditions Must be able to lift 50 pounds....

Prep Cook

  • Manhattan Beach, CA
  • 7 hours ago
  • Manhattan Beach, CA
  • 7 hours ago

Assisting in preparation of various food offered by the Erewhon Cafe, such as salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps, etc....

Prep Cook (Full Time)

  • Milpitas, CA
  • 7 hours ago
  • Milpitas, CA
  • 7 hours ago

Completes orders from steam tables and grill and serves customers at multiple stations....

Kitchen Helper (Hot, Non Halal)

  • Redondo Beach, CA
  • 12 hours ago
  • Redondo Beach, CA
  • 12 hours ago

tasks including preparing food items, cutting vegetables, and preparing trays Completes and assembles food items and tray setups according to the specification this includes hot meals, cold meals, salad...

Line Cook and Prep

  • Los Angeles, CA
  • 13 hours ago
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • 13 hours ago

un Line Cook and Prep (Playa Vista) compensation: $19 plus employment type: job title: Line cook Chef for line cook at Mexican American food-3 years minimum experience Principals only. Recruiters,...

Prep Cook

  • Huntington Beach, CA
  • 15 hours ago
  • Huntington Beach, CA
  • 15 hours ago

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...

Prep Cook (Full Time)

  • San Mateo, CA
  • 15 hours ago
  • San Mateo, CA
  • 15 hours ago

Completes orders from steam tables and grill and serves customers at multiple stations....

Meat Cutter

  • Concord, CA
  • 15 hours ago
  • Concord, CA
  • 15 hours ago

Our franchise organization, Mohave GC, LLC dba Golden Corral, is currently seeking energetic, friendly individuals to join our team! The Meat Cutter's performance and the ability to cut for...

Line/Prep Cook

  • Sacramento, CA
  • 21 hours ago
  • Sacramento, CA
  • 21 hours ago

Minimum three years experience in a fast-paced kitchen Must be able to cook breakfast, work the grill, and saute Able to carry up to 40 pounds Able to maintain a clean environment Able to set up and...

Sushi helper/kitchen helper needed

  • Laguna Niguel, CA
  • 21 hours ago
  • Laguna Niguel, CA
  • 21 hours ago

Sushi restaurant in Laguna Niguel is hiring a sushi helper for dinner shifts and a kitchen helper for lunch shifts. It's a plus if you/re experienced in both, if not, at least six months...

Demographic Data for California

Moving to California? Find some basic demographic data about California below.


Local
National
39,536,271
996,598

Prep Chef Online Courses and Training Opportunities

iHireChefs curates thousands of courses in order to recommend the best ones to help further your career. If you register for a course using the links on our site, we may receive a small commission.
Chef DevOps Essentials
Course Description:In this Chef DevOps Essentials course, students will learn how to leverage Chef, a powerful configuration management tool, to automate the deployment, management, and scaling of...
Viennoiserie Master Pastry chef by APCA chef online
Master chef Angelo Vontoorn in this program is going to teach about different Advance Venoisseries and Laminated doughs. Some are also based on started or Levain. You will be learning how to make...
Planet Chef
Whether they were born in Brazil, Argentina, Japan, South Africa, or Cameroon, they all learned how to cook in France. Meet these young and creative chefs who drew their know-how from their unique...

Salary for Prep Chef Jobs in California

Estimated salary range based on data from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and iHireChefs research efforts.

Licensing / Certification

Required or preferred licenses and certifications for Prep Chef positions.



Highest Education Level

Prep Chefs in California offer the following education background
High School or GED
33.4%
Associate's Degree
24.5%
Vocational Degree or Certification
17.5%
Bachelor's Degree
16.9%
Some College
3.2%
Master's Degree
2.3%
Some High School
1.8%
Doctorate Degree
0.4%

Average Work Experience
Here's a breakdown of the number of years' experience offered by Prep Chefs in California
Less than 1 year
40.5%
2-4 years
26.0%
1-2 years
22.8%
None
9.8%
8-10 years
0.9%



Prep Chef Related Career Advice Articles

How to become a chef
How to Become a Chef

Thinking of launching a career as a chef? This guide will tell you everything you need to know – from how long it takes to become a chef to how to get a job as a chef (and more).

Read article »
Closeup of sustainably sourced ingredients
What Makes a Restaurant Sustainable?

In terms of restaurant management, sustainability is more than just a buzzword or an offshoot of the “farm-to-table” craze.

Read article »
Private chef cooking in home kitchen
Private Chef vs. Personal Chef

Are you considering a career as a private or personal chef? Is there even a difference? These two positions may be synonymous in some circles and require very similar skills, but there is one distinct difference: private chefs are employed by a single client, whereas personal chefs may work for a number of clients at any given time.

Read article »