Cooks (Short Order) Salary by State
The national median pay for cooks (short order) is $35,880 a year. By state, it ranges from $19,910 in Pennsylvania to $46,630 in Arizona.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $23,440
- 25th percentile
- $30,610
- Median
- $35,880
- 75th percentile
- $42,450
- Top 10%
- $46,460
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job. About 138,650 jobs.
Median pay in 48 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $46,630 | +30% | $31,790 | $50,180 | 1,880 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $46,250 | +29% | $31,940 | $47,920 | Not published |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $44,290 | +23% | $32,550 | $53,780 | 4,760 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $43,110 | +20% | $36,840 | $61,640 | 460 |
| 5 | California | $42,930 | +20% | $35,880 | $47,150 | 30,740 |
| 6 | Washington | $42,760 | +19% | $34,650 | $55,660 | 1,700 |
| 7 | Colorado | $42,450 | +18% | $32,030 | $64,840 | 1,900 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $42,450 | +18% | $34,610 | $46,040 | Not published |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $42,450 | +18% | $39,650 | $47,060 | 1,910 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $40,720 | +13% | $33,540 | $51,440 | 850 |
| 11 | Idaho | $40,090 | +12% | $23,130 | $61,190 | 120 |
| 12 | Vermont | $38,830 | +8% | $34,990 | $47,760 | 670 |
| 13 | Oregon | $38,550 | +7% | $30,090 | $54,870 | 1,780 |
| 14 | Delaware | $38,500 | +7% | $33,040 | $42,810 | Not published |
| 15 | Missouri | $38,490 | +7% | $29,810 | $46,440 | Not published |
| 16 | Utah | $38,010 | +6% | $21,820 | $49,410 | 320 |
| 17 | Alaska | $37,780 | +5% | $34,830 | $47,600 | 330 |
| 18 | Nevada | $37,780 | +5% | $27,040 | $41,530 | 790 |
| 19 | Illinois | $37,440 | +4% | $31,200 | $45,950 | 2,630 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $37,150 | +4% | $29,240 | $45,010 | 750 |
| 21 | Maryland | $36,800 | +3% | $31,840 | $44,540 | 3,250 |
| 22 | New York | $35,550 | −1% | $32,240 | $46,550 | 18,300 |
| 23 | Maine | $35,360 | −1% | $32,150 | $41,600 | 1,120 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $35,130 | −2% | $25,290 | $36,270 | 760 |
| 25 | Michigan | $34,510 | −4% | $26,750 | $43,180 | 2,560 |
| 26 | Florida | $34,240 | −5% | $31,450 | $37,260 | 5,050 |
| 27 | Iowa | $34,090 | −5% | $24,960 | $46,650 | 1,160 |
| 28 | Montana | $33,240 | −7% | $29,890 | $36,310 | Not published |
| 29 | South Dakota | $32,380 | −10% | $27,950 | $46,440 | 2,000 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $32,330 | −10% | $24,140 | $49,020 | 2,320 |
| 31 | Minnesota | $32,150 | −10% | $23,150 | $44,460 | 870 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $31,840 | −11% | $22,860 | $44,880 | 650 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $31,290 | −13% | $23,350 | $38,210 | 3,170 |
| 34 | Virginia | $31,200 | −13% | $25,810 | $42,520 | 3,350 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $30,530 | −15% | $28,080 | $41,430 | 1,810 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $30,510 | −15% | $26,000 | $37,140 | 160 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $30,210 | −16% | $22,880 | $39,240 | 2,510 |
| 38 | South Carolina | $29,640 | −17% | $22,670 | $34,480 | 900 |
| 39 | Ohio | $29,290 | −18% | $22,260 | $38,620 | 6,000 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $28,180 | −21% | $19,200 | $35,250 | 1,890 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $28,130 | −22% | $22,550 | $39,080 | 2,270 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $27,440 | −24% | $20,120 | $36,210 | 620 |
| 43 | Kansas | $27,400 | −24% | $24,110 | $36,570 | 640 |
| 44 | Georgia | $26,870 | −25% | $21,430 | $41,010 | 3,870 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $26,260 | −27% | $19,690 | $40,530 | 1,990 |
| 46 | Texas | $25,320 | −29% | $21,850 | $36,320 | 7,540 |
| 47 | Alabama | $22,330 | −38% | $20,500 | $31,220 | Not published |
| 48 | Indiana | $21,940 | −39% | $20,760 | $36,260 | 2,940 |
| 49 | Pennsylvania | $19,910 | −45% | $17,150 | $40,460 | 3,510 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Cooks (Short Order) salary questions
Which state pays cooks (short order) the most?
Arizona, with a median of $46,630 a year (+30% vs. the national median of $35,880). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays cooks (short order) the least?
Pennsylvania, with a median of $19,910 a year (−45% vs. national).
Where do most cooks (short order) work?
California has the most jobs, about 30,740, with a median of $42,930.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.