Average Salary for Cooks, Short Order
SOC 35-2015 · Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Cooks, Short Order in the United States is $35,620 ($17.12/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $23,770 at the 10th percentile to $46,010 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 150,420 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 76.4% since 2014.
Median Annual
$35,620
Mean Annual
$35,660
10th Pct
$23,770
75th Pct
$39,990
Employment
150,420
Salary Distribution
$24k
10th
$30k
25th
$36k
Median
$40k
75th
$46k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $48,970 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $48,700 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $46,830 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $46,010 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,270 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $44,090 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $43,740 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $43,610 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $43,570 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $42,480 |
| Worcester, MA | $42,480 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $42,310 |
| Reno, NV | $40,300 |
| Anchorage, AK | $39,940 |
| Springfield, MA | $39,660 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,240 |
| Washington | $46,010 |
| Massachusetts | $44,770 |
| Colorado | $44,090 |
| Hawaii | $41,100 |
| Alaska | $39,940 |
| Vermont | $39,140 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Nevada | $38,970 |
| District of Columbia | $38,340 |
| New Mexico | $38,130 |
| Connecticut | $36,970 |
| New York | $36,830 |
| Illinois | $36,700 |
| Utah | $36,680 |
| Wyoming | $35,620 |
| Oregon | $35,620 |
| Missouri | $35,300 |
| Maryland | $35,280 |
| New Jersey | $35,190 |
| North Dakota | $34,700 |
| Rhode Island | $34,410 |
| Florida | $34,320 |
| Maine | $34,070 |
| Delaware | $31,960 |
| Iowa | $31,520 |
| Montana | $31,490 |
| Idaho | $31,280 |
| Nebraska | $31,200 |
| South Dakota | $31,160 |
| Oklahoma | $31,040 |
| Indiana | $30,700 |
| Michigan | $30,670 |
| North Carolina | $30,530 |
| Virginia | $30,270 |
| Arkansas | $29,410 |
| Minnesota | $29,260 |
| South Carolina | $29,180 |
| Kentucky | $29,120 |
| New Hampshire | $29,000 |
| Tennessee | $29,000 |
| Texas | $28,770 |
| Ohio | $28,400 |
| West Virginia | $27,480 |
| Wisconsin | $27,300 |
| Louisiana | $27,050 |
| Kansas | $26,780 |
| Mississippi | $25,710 |
| Alabama | $25,340 |
| Guam | $22,350 |
| Georgia | $22,160 |
| Puerto Rico | $20,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $18,400 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Cooks, Short Order broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers | $49,430 |
| Sporting Goods Retailers | $49,430 |
| Facilities Support Services | $47,440 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $46,880 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $46,880 |
| Information | $46,860 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $46,540 |
| Hospitals | $46,540 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $45,660 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | $45,240 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $44,540 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $44,430 |
| Temporary Help Services | $43,680 |
| General Merchandise Retailers | $42,660 |
| Educational Services | $40,310 |
| Educational Services | $40,080 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $39,760 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $39,760 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | $39,200 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $38,350 |
| Casino Hotels | $37,990 |
| Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers | $37,850 |
| Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers | $37,850 |
| Employment Services | $37,840 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $37,840 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $37,720 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $37,720 |
| Performing Arts Companies | $37,720 |
| Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | $37,630 |
| Beverage Manufacturing | $37,630 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $37,550 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $37,550 |
| Special Food Services | $37,420 |
| Manufacturing | $37,190 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $37,180 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $36,850 |
| Gambling Industries | $36,430 |
| Real Estate | $36,240 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $36,210 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) | $36,190 |
| Traveler Accommodation | $36,170 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers | $36,140 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) | $36,020 |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | $35,620 |
| Accommodation | $35,620 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | $35,620 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $35,610 |
| Motion Picture and Video Exhibition | $35,550 |
| Restaurants and Other Eating Places | $35,530 |
| Individual and Family Services | $35,260 |
| Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | $35,260 |
| Social Assistance | $35,260 |
| Retail Trade | $35,170 |
| Full-Service Restaurants | $34,740 |
| Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | $33,960 |
| Food Manufacturing | $33,960 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $33,470 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $33,470 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $33,470 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $33,390 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $33,340 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $33,280 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $33,280 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $33,270 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $32,350 |
| Miscellaneous Store Retailers (4594 and 4595 only) | $32,350 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | $31,470 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $30,940 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $30,690 |
| Gasoline Stations | $30,660 |
| Gasoline Stations and Fuel Dealers | $30,660 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $30,540 |
| Wholesale Trade | $29,420 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $29,180 |
| Personal and Laundry Services | $28,900 |
| RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps | $28,300 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $27,040 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers | $27,040 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $26,310 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers | $25,900 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $35,620 |
| 2023 | $34,130 |
| 2022 | $30,360 |
| 2021 | $28,560 |
| 2020 | $26,570 |
| 2019 | $25,150 |
| 2018 | $23,800 |
| 2017 | $22,740 |
| 2016 | $21,890 |
| 2015 | $20,780 |
| 2014 | $20,190 |