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Occupation · SOC 35-2015

Cooks, Short Order

There are 138,650 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $35,880 a year. The most jobs are in Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA.

Food ServiceTypical education: No formal educational credential
138,650
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$35,880
Median pay a year
Middle half: $30,610–$42,450
17,400
Annual openings
10-year change: −5.2%
No formal educational credential
Typical education to enter

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 206 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $43,680 · LCA filings 012,410$43,6800
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $35,360 · LCA filings 09,990$35,3600
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $39,600 · LCA filings 04,460$39,6000
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $45,790 · LCA filings 04,430$45,7900
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $39,650 · LCA filings 03,850$39,6500
Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario, CAMedian pay $35,610 · LCA filings 02,280$35,6100
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MDMedian pay $36,460 · LCA filings 01,940$36,4600
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CAMedian pay $37,300 · LCA filings 01,830$37,3000
Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CAMedian pay $38,480 · LCA filings 01,800$38,4800
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $37,440 · LCA filings 01,780$37,4400

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
Corvallis, OREmployment 50 · LCA filings 0$54,020500
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAEmployment 830 · LCA filings 0$50,8708300
Kahului–Wailuku, HIEmployment 110 · LCA filings 0$48,1401100
Santa Rosa–Petaluma, CAEmployment 700 · LCA filings 0$46,4507000
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 1,660 · LCA filings 0$45,9901,6600

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $40,456 · Level III $42,411 · Level IV $44,387$38,480$40,456$42,411$44,387
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $36,525 · Level III $39,291 · Level IV $42,078$33,738$36,525$39,291$42,078
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $36,795 · Level III $41,558 · Level IV $46,322$32,032$36,795$41,558$46,322
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $43,763 · Level III $46,218 · Level IV $48,693$41,288$43,763$46,218$48,693
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $36,837 · Level III $39,978 · Level IV $43,139$33,675$36,837$39,978$43,139
Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario, CALevel II $36,525 · Level III $37,939 · Level IV $39,354$35,110$36,525$37,939$39,354
Baltimore–Columbia–Towson, MDLevel II $36,358 · Level III $38,168 · Level IV $39,998$34,528$36,358$38,168$39,998
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CALevel II $37,835 · Level III $39,749 · Level IV $41,642$35,942$37,835$39,749$41,642
Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom, CALevel II $38,730 · Level III $41,122 · Level IV $43,493$36,358$38,730$41,122$43,493
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $36,650 · Level III $38,958 · Level IV $41,267$34,341$36,650$38,958$41,267

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

See Cooks, Short Order in every metro area

All 206 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Related occupations · Food Service

Fast Food and Counter WorkersWaiters and WaitressesCooks, RestaurantFirst-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersFood Preparation WorkersBartendersHosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee ShopDining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers

Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology