Prep Cook: career path and pay in the US
Where a Prep Cook goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 4 steps, from Prep Cook to Head Chef / Executive Chef.
Also for the United Kingdom: Prep Cook in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 2 years
Prep Cook
$30K to $45K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Food Safety Certification (required) - Global, Culinary NVQ Level 1 (optional) - UK/EU.
Step 2 · 2 to 5 years
Senior Prep Cook / Line Cook
$30K to $45K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Food Safety Certification - Global, Culinary NVQ Level 2 - UK/EU.
Step 3 · 5 to 8 years
Kitchen Supervisor / Sous Chef
$35K to $55K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Culinary Arts Certification (optional) - Global, Food Safety Certification - Global, Culinary NVQ Level 3 - UK/EU.
Step 4 · 8+ years
Head Chef / Executive Chef
$55K to $80K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: Culinary Arts Certification - Global, Food Safety Certification - Global, Culinary NVQ Level 4 - UK/EU.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
52% → 24%
Falls 28 points. Each step is harder to automate than the last. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$30K to $45K → $55K to $80K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US. Indeed publishes a hourly average for Prep Cook ($17.37); this band converts it at 40 hours a week. Indeed publishes a hourly average for Senior Prep Cook ($18.57); this band converts it at 40 hours a week. Indeed publishes a hourly average for Kitchen Supervisor ($21.28); this band converts it at 40 hours a week.
What the work involves
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Monitoring
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Food Production
- Production and Processing
Education people bring
- Doctoral Degree: 4%
- Less than a High School Diploma: 3%
- Post-Secondary Certificate: 1%
Job Zone 2, job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Other paths from here
- Line Cook
- Sous Chef
- Restaurant Manager
- Food & Beverage Manager
More Retail/Hospitality paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Cooks, Restaurant, Cooks, Short Order, Fast Food and Counter Workers, Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria, Butchers and Meat Cutters.
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.