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Short order cook: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$35,880median pay per year, or $17.25 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $23,440lowest 10% earn less
  2. $30,61025th percentile
  3. $35,880median
  4. $42,45075th percentile
  5. $46,460top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Short order cooks earned a median of $35,880 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to fall 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, while employment in all occupations is projected to grow[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-5.2%[2]
Openings per year
17,400[6]
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential[7]

How much do short order cooks make?

The median short order cook wage was $35,880 a year, or $17.25 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers made more than that and half made less[1]. The average was $36,120 a year, or $17.37 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980, so short order cooks sat below it[1][5].

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][9] $23,440 $11.27
25th percentile[4][9] $30,610 $14.71
Median[1] $35,880 $17.25
75th percentile[4][9] $42,450 $20.41
90th percentile[4][9] $46,460 $22.34

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $23,440 a year[4][10]. BLS does not publish a starting salary, only percentile wages[10].

The figures cover about 138,650 wage and salary jobs[11]. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[12].

Pay by state and city

BLS published short order cook wages for 48 states and the District of Columbia[13]. The highest median wages were in Arizona ($46,630), Rhode Island ($46,250) and Massachusetts ($44,290)[13]. The lowest were in Pennsylvania ($19,910) and Indiana ($21,940)[13].

California had the most jobs, with 30,740[14]. New York followed with 18,300, then Texas with 7,540[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue had the highest median, $50,870, followed by Kahului-Wailuku, HI at $48,140 and Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA at $46,450[15]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the most jobs, 12,410, with a median of $43,680[16]. New York-Newark-Jersey City came next with 9,990 jobs and a median of $35,360[16].

Show median pay in 48 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Arizona[13]$46,6301,880
Rhode Island$46,250n/a
Massachusetts$44,2904,760
Hawaii$43,110460
California$42,93030,740
Washington$42,7601,700
Colorado$42,4501,900
Connecticut$42,450n/a
District of Columbia$42,4501,910
New Jersey$40,720850
Idaho$40,090120
Vermont$38,830670
Oregon$38,5501,780
Delaware$38,500n/a
Missouri$38,490n/a
Utah$38,010320
Alaska$37,780330
Nevada$37,780790
Illinois$37,4402,630
New Mexico$37,150750
Maryland$36,8003,250
New York$35,55018,300
Maine$35,3601,120
Oklahoma$35,130760
Michigan$34,5102,560
Florida$34,2405,050
Iowa$34,0901,160
Montana$33,240n/a
South Dakota$32,3802,000
New Hampshire$32,3302,320
Minnesota$32,150870
Kentucky$31,840650
North Carolina$31,2903,170
Virginia$31,2003,350
Nebraska$30,5301,810
Arkansas$30,510160
Tennessee$30,2102,510
South Carolina$29,640900
Ohio$29,2906,000
Mississippi$28,1801,890
Wisconsin$28,1302,270
West Virginia$27,440620
Kansas$27,400640
Georgia$26,8703,870
Louisiana$26,2601,990
Texas$25,3207,540
Alabama$22,330n/a
Indiana$21,9402,940
Pennsylvania$19,9103,510

How to become a short order cook

BLS lists no formal educational credential and no related work experience for entry. The typical training is short-term on-the-job training[7].

The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers cooks as a wider group, not only short order cooks[17].

Some people begin as a kitchen helper or food prep worker and move up to assistant cook or line cook jobs[23]. Certification is not required for cooks in many states. In some states and localities, cooks need a food handler's certificate, so check with your state or local licensing board[24].

In an O*NET survey of 22 workers, 66% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, 14% said less than a high school diploma, 9% said some college courses and 7% said a post-secondary certificate[25].

What short order cooks do

Short order cooks prepare and cook to order foods that need little preparation time. They may also take orders and serve customers at counters or tables[26]. Tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as grill cook, line cook, pizza maker and prep cook[28].

Where they work

Cooks are found in restaurants, schools, hospitals and hotels, and some work in private homes[29]. The BLS profile lists food services and drinking places as the largest employer of cooks, at 76%[30]. Cooks often prepare only a portion of a dish and work with other kitchen workers to finish meals on time[29].

The work involves standing for long periods in a fast-paced setting[31]. Kitchens are crowded and have risks such as hot ovens and slippery floors[32]. Slips, falls, cuts and burns are the usual hazards, and BLS says injuries are seldom serious[33]. Cooks wear gloves, aprons and nonslip shoes to lower the risks[33].

BLS says full-time work is typical, though part-time work is common. Hours vary and can fall early in the morning, late at night, on weekends or on holidays[34]. Cooks in schools may work just the school year, and some resort cooks work only in season[35].

Job outlook

BLS projects short order cook employment to fall 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 138,700 to 131,500 jobs, a change of 7,200[2]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. Across all occupations, projected growth is 3.5% over the same span[3].

Even so, about 17,400 openings are projected each year, on average[6]. Openings count jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, as well as new jobs[6]. Each year, 5.9% of short order cooks are projected to leave the labor force and 7.5% to move to a different occupation[36].

Is it a good fit?

The facts show a job with no formal entry requirement and short-term on-the-job training[7]. The median wage sits below the all-occupations median, and employment is projected to shrink[1][5][2]. At the same time, many openings come up each year as workers leave or change jobs[6][36]. The work is fast-paced and means standing for long periods[31]. It may suit people who want to get into a kitchen without a degree and are comfortable with the pace and the pay range shown here.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a short order cook make an hour?
The median was $17.25 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $11.27 and the 90th percentile was $22.34[9].
Do you need a degree to be a short order cook?
BLS lists no formal educational credential for entry[7]. Employers may require or prefer a high school diploma[19].
How long does it take to become a short order cook?
BLS lists short-term on-the-job training as typical[7]. Optional culinary programs usually run anywhere from a few months up to 2 years[20].
Is short order cook a growing job?
No. Employment is projected to fall 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][3]. Still, about 17,400 openings are projected each year[6].
What is the highest paying state for short order cooks?
Arizona had the highest median, $46,630, among the states with published data[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in the US was $35,880 per year and $17.25 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Cooks, Short Order is projected to decline 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 138,700 to 131,500 jobs (a change of -7,200). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Cooks, Short Order: 10th percentile $23,440, 25th percentile $30,610, 75th percentile $42,450, 90th percentile $46,460. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 17,400 openings for Cooks, Short Order are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Cooks, Short Order: education needed for entry: No formal educational credential; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Cooks, Short Order was $36,120 per year and $17.37 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Cooks, Short Order: 10th percentile $11.27, 25th percentile $14.71, 75th percentile $20.41, 90th percentile $22.34. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 138,650 people were employed as Cooks, Short Order in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Cooks, Short Order in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Cooks, Short Order jobs: California 30,740; New York 18,300; Texas 7,540; Ohio 6,000; Florida 5,050. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Cooks, Short Order (areas with at least 100 jobs): Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,870; Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,140; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $46,450; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $45,990; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $45,790; Barnstable Town, MA $45,690; Vallejo, CA $45,360; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $44,200. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Cooks, Short Order jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 12,410 (median $43,680); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 9,990 (median $35,360); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 4,460 (median $39,600); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 4,430 (median $45,790); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 3,850 (median $39,650); Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA 2,280 (median $35,610). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Cooks" covers Cooks, Short Order together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET 35-2015.00 survey of workers (22 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 66%, Less than a High School Diploma 14%, Some College Courses 9%, Post-Secondary Certificate 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET description of Cooks, Short Order. O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET task list for Cooks, Short Order. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET 35-2015.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Broiler Cook, Cook, Deli Cook (Delicatessen Cook), Food and Beverage Attendant, Grill Cook, Line Cook, Pizza Maker, Prep Cook (Preparation Cook). O*NET OnLine
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of cooks in 2025: Food services and drinking places 76%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Cooks, Short Order: 5.9% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.