Cooks, Short Order salary in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
Cooks, Short Order in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median of $44,200 a year ($21.25 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,010 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,840 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 4% higher than the Colorado statewide median of $42,450. There are 0.63 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $51,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| 25th percentile | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| Median | $44,200 | $21.25 |
| 75th percentile | $64,840 | $31.17 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,840 | $31.17 |
| Average (mean) | $51,530 | $24.78 |
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 | $3,683.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,841.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,700 |
| Weekly | $850 |
| Hourly | $21.25 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Colorado statewide figures.
Related jobs in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $44,370 | $21.33 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,070 | $21.67 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $38,530 | $18.53 |
| Cooks, All Other | $49,780 | $23.93 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,070 | $17.82 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $39,650 | $19.06 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $52,520 | $25.25 |
| Bartender | $37,180 | $17.88 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $39,850 | $19.16 |
| Dishwasher | $38,710 | $18.61 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $36,880 | $17.73 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $66,970 | $32.20 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO
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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $44,200 a year, or $21.25 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn at least $64,840 a year. The top 25% earn $64,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,450 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $42,450 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO?
About 1,010 cooks, short order are employed in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area, not counting the self-employed.