Cooks, Short Order
SOC code 35-2015 · O*NET-SOC 35-2015.00 · Little to some preparation needed · Food service and hospitality
Cooks, Short Order pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$35,880
a year
Hourly
$17.25
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$36,120
$17.37 per hour
Middle 50%
$30,610 – $42,450
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$23,440 – $46,460
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
138,650
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $23,440
- $11.27/hr
- 25th percentile
- $30,610
- $14.71/hr
- Median percentile
- $35,880
- $17.25/hr
- 75th percentile
- $42,450
- $20.41/hr
- 90th percentile
- $46,460
- $22.34/hr
What do cooks, short order do?
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.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Clean food preparation equipment, work areas, and counters or tables.
- Grill and garnish hamburgers or other meats, such as steaks and chops.
- Restock kitchen supplies, rotate food, and stamp the time and date on food in coolers.
- Complete orders from steam tables, placing food on plates and serving customers at tables or counters.
- Plan work on orders so that items served together are finished at the same time.
- Grill, cook, and fry foods such as french fries, eggs, and pancakes.
- Perform food preparation tasks, such as making sandwiches, carving meats, making soups or salads, baking breads or desserts, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Perform general cleaning activities in kitchen and dining areas.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 66% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 2 — Little to some preparation needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)66%
- Less than a High School Diploma14%
- Some College Courses9%
- Post-Secondary Certificate7%
Common questions
How much does a cooks, short order earn?
The national median is $35,880 a year. The full range runs from $23,440 at the 10th percentile to $46,460 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a cooks, short order without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 2, meaning the typical entry route is usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension3.1/5
- Active Listening3.1/5
- Speaking3.0/5
- Critical Thinking2.9/5
- Monitoring2.9/5
Knowledge areas
- Food Production4.0/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.4/5
- English Language3.2/5
- Production and Processing2.6/5
Transferable strengths: Time Management, Coordination, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving.