Cooks (Short Order)
O*NET title: Cooks, Short Order
Prepare and cook to order a variety of foods that require only a short preparation time. May take orders from customers and serve patrons at counters or tables.
Also called: Barbecue Cook, Bed and Breakfast Cook (B&B Cook), Breakfast Cook, Breakfast Line Cook, Broiler Cook, Chuck Wagon Cook
Median pay
$35,880
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$23,440 – $46,460
People employed
138,650
Holland code
RCE
Realistic · Conventional · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK being on your feet and moving most of the day?
- 2.Are you happy working mostly on your own, with little contact with others?
- 3.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 4.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 5.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
The hard parts
- Long hours on your feet
- Tight deadlines are common
Cooks (Short Order) pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (48 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What cooks (short order) do
- 01Clean food preparation equipment, work areas, and counters or tables.
- 02Grill and garnish hamburgers or other meats, such as steaks and chops.
- 03Restock kitchen supplies, rotate food, and stamp the time and date on food in coolers.
- 04Complete orders from steam tables, placing food on plates and serving customers at tables or counters.
- 05Plan work on orders so that items served together are finished at the same time.
- 06Grill, cook, and fry foods such as french fries, eggs, and pancakes.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Food Production
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Production and Processing
- Communications and Media
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: none.
- On-the-job training: none or short demonstration.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from cooks (short order)
- Butchers and Meat Cutters84% · +12%
- Bakers80% · +4%
- Fast Food and Counter Workers79% · −13%
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers78% · −5%
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant77% · −1%
Change into cooks (short order)
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Butchers and Meat Cutters84% · $40,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers81% · $33,980
- Fast Food and Counter Workers81% · $31,200
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant80% · $35,360
- Baristas78% · $31,200