Cook

About the role

Our Back-of-the-House team members have a mutual respect for quality food and perform their responsibilities as if placing a personal signature on every plate. Newly hired cooks will train in a specific station based on their comfort level and innate skill. You don’t need to master the art of flipping an egg to work at First Watch (unless you want to!).

Our Cooks:

• Communicate well with others and believe in the importance of teamwork
• Are responsible for delivering high-quality, safe food in a fast-paced kitchen
• Follow our award-winning recipes and use only the freshest ingredients
• Maintain a clean, sanitized, and organized station
• Must be at least 18 years of age

Responsibilities

• Food preparation
• Adherence to kitchen safety and sanitation standards
• Teamwork and communication
• Recipe adherence
• Time management in a fast-paced environment

Benefits

• Health Insurance (eligible first of the month after 60 days of employment)
• Dental & Vision Coverage
• Unlimited access to medical and behavioral telemedicine through Cirrus MD
• Flexible Spending Account for health care expenses
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account for children up to age 13
• 401(K) Retirement Savings Program
• 50% meal discount for you, spouse, and dependent children at all company restaurants
• Child Discount Program at The Learning Experience
• Employee Assistance Program and personal/professional coaching
• Bright Horizons back-up child and elder care
• Supplemental Insurance (accident, critical illness, indemnity)
• Paid Time Off (PTO) – must meet minimum hourly requirements
• Tuition Reimbursement & High School Diploma Program
• Spot Pet Insurance
• Complimentary premium access to the Calm App, plus 5 gift subscriptions
• Perks at Work (over 30,000 discounts on travel, fitness, auto, event tickets, and more)

Pay

National median pay for line cooks is $36,420 annually ($17.51/hr), with the top 10 percent earning $51K+.

About First Watch

First Watch is the leading Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch using the freshest ingredients. Guided by its “Follow the Sun” culinary philosophy, the chef-driven menu rotates multiple times per year to feature peak seasonal flavors. Signature items include Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, Quinoa Power Bowl, and Million Dollar Bacon. For every kid’s meal served, First Watch donates a portion to community organizations, raising approximately $2.3 million to date. With over 660 restaurants in 33 states, First Watch has been recognized as #1 Best Breakfast by Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 and #1 Most Loved Workplace® in America by the Best Practice Institute.