Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Short-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Cooks, short order prepare food in fast-paced environments where quick service is essential. National employment stands at 151,000, indicating a sizable workforce in this occupation. While projected employment growth is -5.6%, there are still an estimated 21,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing hiring needs. The national median annual salary is $35,620, with some states and metro areas offering higher typical pay. This role emphasizes direct interaction with customers and coworkers, making customer service and interpersonal skills important. Physical strength and stamina, fine motor skills, and adaptability support the hands-on nature of the work. At the same time, skills like project management, leadership, and creativity and innovation can help workers handle busy periods and changing demands. With no formal educational credential typically required, this occupation can be accessible to people entering the workforce or changing careers, while still offering room to build a broad skill set that can be useful in other food-related or service roles over time.
The national median annual salary for cooks, short order is $35,620. Earnings vary by location, with some states and metro areas offering higher median pay. Among the top states by opportunity score, Massachusetts reports a median salary of $44,290, California $42,930, Washington $42,760, and Colorado $42,450, all above the national median. New York is closer to the national level at $35,550. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA shows a median salary of $45,990, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports $45,790. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro is near the national median at $35,360, while Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH are somewhat higher at $39,650 and $39,600. These differences suggest that workers may see notably different earning potential depending on the state or metro where they work.
Cooks, short order have national employment of 151,000. The occupation’s projected employment growth is -5.6%, indicating that total employment is expected to decline. Even with this decline, there are still an estimated 21,000 annual openings. This combination suggests that while the overall number of jobs may decrease over time, there will continue to be hiring activity each year as positions open. The -5.6% projected growth rate is consistent across the listed top states and metro areas, which all show the same growth figure. For job seekers, this means that opportunities may be more competitive in some areas, but the ongoing annual openings provide continued access points into the field. Individuals considering this occupation can use the employment and growth data, along with opportunity scores for particular locations, to help evaluate where the job market may be relatively more favorable for short order cooks over the coming years.
Location makes a clear difference for short order cooks in terms of both job concentration and earnings. Among states, California leads with 30,740 employed and a median salary of $42,930, paired with the highest state-level opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York also rank highly, with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78 and median salaries of $44,290 and $35,550, respectively. Colorado and Washington offer median salaries above $42,000 and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA stands out with an opportunity score of 77.42 and a median salary of $45,990. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro has a similar top-tier opportunity score of 77.27 and employment of 9,990. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also provide substantial employment and mid-to-upper $30,000s to mid-$40,000s median salaries, offering multiple strong regional options.
Short order cook positions typically require no formal educational credential, which can make this occupation accessible to people without a degree or prior formal training. Instead of specific education requirements, the role relies heavily on a blend of practical and interpersonal skills. Customer service and interpersonal skills are central, supporting positive interactions with guests and coworkers. Physical strength and stamina, along with fine motor skills, are important for handling the physical and precise aspects of the job. Adaptability and creativity and innovation help workers respond to varied orders and changing conditions. Project management and leadership skills can support organizing tasks and coordinating with others, while mechanical abilities and science knowledge can also play a role in understanding tools, equipment, or basic food-related principles. For job seekers, strengthening these skills can be a key pathway into the occupation and may also support movement into similar roles such as other food preparation or service positions over time.
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