Median Salary
$35,880
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$17.25
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$46,460
entry level starts ~$23,440
Pay Grade
C
below-average pay · 139,000 employed
How much does a Cook, Short Order make?
A Cook, Short Order earns a median annual salary of $35,880 in the United States, which works out to roughly $17.25 per hour for full-time work. Most Cooks, Short Order earn between $23,440 at the entry level and $46,460 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $30,610 and $42,450 a year.
That is $25,510 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Cook, Short Order salary range by percentile
Half of all Cooks, Short Order earn between $30,610 and $42,450 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,440 | $11.27 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $30,610 | $14.72 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $35,880 | $17.25 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $42,450 | $20.41 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,460 | $22.34 |
|
Highest-paying states for Cook, Short Order
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Arizona leads the country for Cook, Short Order pay at $46,630 a year, followed by Rhode Island ($46,250) and Massachusetts ($44,290). At the other end, Pennsylvania posts the lowest median at $19,910 — a gap of $26,720 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Cook, Short Order salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 49 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Arizona $46,630Rhode Island $46,250Massachusetts $44,290Hawaii $43,110California $42,930Washington $42,760Colorado $42,450Connecticut $42,450District of Columbia $42,450New Jersey $40,720Idaho $40,090Vermont $38,830Oregon $38,550Delaware $38,500Missouri $38,490Utah $38,010Alaska $37,780Nevada $37,780Illinois $37,440New Mexico $37,150Maryland $36,800New York $35,550Maine $35,360Oklahoma $35,130Michigan $34,510Florida $34,240Iowa $34,090Montana $33,240South Dakota $32,380New Hampshire $32,330Minnesota $32,150Kentucky $31,840North Carolina $31,290Virginia $31,200Nebraska $30,530Arkansas $30,510Tennessee $30,210South Carolina $29,640Ohio $29,290Mississippi $28,180Wisconsin $28,130West Virginia $27,440Kansas $27,400Georgia $26,870Louisiana $26,260Texas $25,320Alabama $22,330Indiana $21,940Pennsylvania $19,910
Workforce and education
About 139,000 people work as Cooks, Short Order in the United States. On qualifications: no college degree is required — most training happens on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Cook, Short Order make in the United States?
The median Cook, Short Order salary in the United States is $35,880 per year, or about $17.25 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $23,440, while the top 10% of earners make $46,460 or more.
How does Cook, Short Order pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C (below-average pay), the Cook, Short Order median of $35,880 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Cooks, Short Order the most?
Arizona is the highest-paying state for Cooks, Short Order, with a median salary of $46,630 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Cook, Short Order?
Becoming a Cook, Short Order typically requires no formal schooling beyond basic training. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
How many Cooks, Short Order work in the United States?
About 139,000 people were employed as Cooks, Short Order in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.