Cooks, Restaurant vs Cooks, Short Order: Salary Comparison

Side-by-side salary data across all 50 states. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024).

National Salary Overview

Cooks, Restaurant

Median Salary
$34,852
Average (Mean)
$35,682
Employed Nationwide
1,412,370
VS

Cooks, Short Order

Median Salary
$32,049
Average (Mean)
$33,244
Employed Nationwide
122,980
Cooks, Restaurant earns $2,803 more (8.7%)

Key Metrics Compared

Median Salary $34,852 $32,049
Average (Mean) Salary $35,682 $33,244
Total Employment 1,412,370 122,980
States with Higher Pay 41 9

Salary by State: Cooks, Restaurant vs Cooks, Short Order

Showing 50 states where both occupations have BLS data. Cooks, Restaurant pays more in 41 states; Cooks, Short Order pays more in 9.

State Cooks, Restaurant Cooks, Short Order Difference
Alabama $28,940
$24,480
+$4,460
Alaska $37,160
$37,970
$-810
Arizona $37,460
$35,610
+$1,850
Arkansas $28,880
$26,740
+$2,140
California $41,400
$37,590
+$3,810
Colorado $38,130
$34,980
+$3,150
Connecticut $36,830
$37,860
$-1,030
Delaware $33,560
$29,000
+$4,560
District of Columbia $38,120
$37,010
+$1,110
Florida $35,120
$31,940
+$3,180
Georgia $30,400
$31,940
$-1,540
Hawaii $41,500
$41,610
$-110
Idaho $34,160
$29,470
+$4,690
Illinois $36,300
$33,700
+$2,600
Indiana $30,580
$28,860
+$1,720
Iowa $32,090
$29,580
+$2,510
Kansas $32,310
$31,110
+$1,200
Kentucky $29,400
$30,880
$-1,480
Louisiana $28,710
$22,900
+$5,810
Maine $38,700
$36,920
+$1,780
Maryland $35,810
$33,980
+$1,830
Massachusetts $43,560
$39,890
+$3,670
Michigan $35,250
$28,110
+$7,140
Minnesota $37,480
$35,450
+$2,030
Mississippi $28,950
$25,020
+$3,930
Missouri $33,630
$28,630
+$5,000
Montana $34,880
$28,180
+$6,700
Nebraska $35,230
$33,960
+$1,270
Nevada $36,490
$40,620
$-4,130
New Hampshire $37,930
$30,920
+$7,010
New Jersey $37,250
$33,430
+$3,820
New Mexico $30,150
$30,940
$-790
New York $39,110
$36,680
+$2,430
North Carolina $34,020
$24,810
+$9,210
North Dakota $35,340
$37,700
$-2,360
Ohio $30,980
$27,300
+$3,680
Oklahoma $29,910
$29,640
+$270
Oregon $36,690
$35,800
+$890
Pennsylvania $32,210
$28,660
+$3,550
South Carolina $31,870
$29,810
+$2,060
South Dakota $33,940
$30,240
+$3,700
Tennessee $34,260
$30,160
+$4,100
Texas $30,600
$28,520
+$2,080
Utah $37,120
$29,990
+$7,130
Vermont $44,000
$37,250
+$6,750
Virginia $34,890
$30,120
+$4,770
Washington $43,990
$43,230
+$760
West Virginia $28,100
$22,510
+$5,590
Wisconsin $35,870
$28,820
+$7,050
Wyoming $30,370
$31,940
$-1,570

Frequently Asked Questions

Who makes more: Cooks, Restaurant or Cooks, Short Order?
On average across all states, a Cooks, Restaurant earns more than a Cooks, Short Order. The national median salary difference is $2,803 (8.7%) based on 2024 BLS data.
In how many states does a Cooks, Restaurant earn more than a Cooks, Short Order?
A Cooks, Restaurant earns a higher median salary than a Cooks, Short Order in 41 out of 50 states where both occupations have BLS data. A Cooks, Short Order pays more in 9 states.
What is the median salary for a Cooks, Restaurant vs Cooks, Short Order?
The national median salary for a Cooks, Restaurant is $34,852 per year, compared to $32,049 for a Cooks, Short Order, according to 2024 BLS OEWS data.
Which has more jobs: Cooks, Restaurant or Cooks, Short Order?
There are more people employed as Cooks, Restaurant. BLS reports approximately 1,412,370 Cooks, Restaurant positions and 122,980 Cooks, Short Order positions nationwide (2024).
Should I become a Cooks, Restaurant or Cooks, Short Order?
Both Cooks, Restaurant and Cooks, Short Order are viable career paths. Beyond salary, consider factors like job availability in your state, work-life balance, education requirements, growth potential, and personal interests. Visit each occupation's salary page for state-specific data and career insights.

Compare After-Tax Take-Home Pay

See what each role actually pays after federal, state, and FICA taxes.