Cooks, Short Order salary in Massachusetts
Cooks, Short Order in Massachusetts earn a median of $44,290 a year ($21.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,760 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,780 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $35,880. Massachusetts ranks 3rd of 49 states for cooks, short order pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.3 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,700, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Massachusetts
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,550 | $15.65 |
| 25th percentile | $33,620 | $16.17 |
| Median | $44,290 | $21.29 |
| 75th percentile | $50,690 | $24.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,780 | $25.86 |
| Average (mean) | $42,700 | $20.53 |
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 | $3,690.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,845.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,703.46 |
| Weekly | $851.73 |
| Hourly | $21.29 |
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 Massachusetts
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town, MA | $45,690 | 190 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $44,050 | 520 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $43,790 | 70 |
| Worcester, MA | $40,780 | 340 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $39,600 | 4,460 |
| Springfield, MA | $39,200 | 160 |
| Pittsfield, MA | $37,720 | 50 |
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 Massachusetts
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $38,900 | $18.70 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $47,790 | $22.98 |
| Cooks, All Other | $69,570 | $33.45 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,850 | $17.24 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $46,600 | $22.40 |
| Bartender | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Dishwasher | $37,190 | $17.88 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $35,380 | $17.01 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $69,540 | $33.43 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,750 | $17.67 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts?
The median salary for cooks, short order in Massachusetts is $44,290 a year, or $21.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $53,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Massachusetts?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in Massachusetts earn at least $53,780 a year. The top 25% earn $50,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Massachusetts?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,550 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $33,620 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Massachusetts?
About 4,760 cooks, short order are employed in Massachusetts, not counting the self-employed.