Cooks, Short Order salary in Colorado
Cooks, Short Order in Colorado earn a median of $42,450 a year ($20.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,900 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,840 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $35,880. Colorado ranks 7th of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 0.66 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $44,170, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Colorado
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,030 | $15.40 |
| 25th percentile | $35,220 | $16.93 |
| Median | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| 75th percentile | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,840 | $31.17 |
| Average (mean) | $44,170 | $21.24 |
Half of cooks, short order earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,537.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,768.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,632.69 |
| Weekly | $816.35 |
| Hourly | $20.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in cities in Colorado
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $44,200 | 1,010 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $32,630 | n/a |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $32,030 | 190 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
Related jobs in Colorado
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $42,500 | $20.43 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $36,900 | $17.74 |
| Cooks, All Other | $43,490 | $20.91 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $36,270 | $17.44 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $50,550 | $24.30 |
| Bartender | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Dishwasher | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $65,400 | $31.44 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Colorado
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2015. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, short order make in Colorado?
The median salary for cooks, short order in Colorado is $42,450 a year, or $20.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Colorado?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in Colorado earn at least $64,840 a year. The top 25% earn $45,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Colorado?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,030 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $35,220 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Colorado?
About 1,900 cooks, short order are employed in Colorado, not counting the self-employed.