Cooks, Short Order salary in New Jersey
Cooks, Short Order in New Jersey earn a median of $40,720 a year ($19.58 an hour), based on BLS data for 850 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,440 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $35,880. New Jersey ranks 10th of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 0.20 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.22). The average (mean) salary is $41,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,540 | $16.13 |
| 25th percentile | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| Median | $40,720 | $19.58 |
| 75th percentile | $46,900 | $22.55 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,440 | $24.73 |
| Average (mean) | $41,380 | $19.89 |
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 | $3,393.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,696.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,566.15 |
| Weekly | $783.08 |
| Hourly | $19.58 |
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 New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $35,920 | 110 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $35,360 | 9,990 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $33,400 | n/a |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $31,940 | 160 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $31,360 | 1,340 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,460 | $18.49 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,540 | $17.09 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,520 | $21.40 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,220 | $15.49 |
| Cooks, All Other | $46,080 | $22.15 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,150 | $16.42 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $44,960 | $21.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $48,420 | $23.28 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $34,170 | $16.43 |
| Bartender | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $36,390 | $17.50 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $34,050 | $16.37 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,280 | $35.71 |
| Dishwasher | $35,900 | $17.26 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for cooks, short order in New Jersey is $40,720 a year, or $19.58 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,540 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in New Jersey earn at least $51,440 a year. The top 25% earn $46,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,540 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $36,360 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in New Jersey?
About 850 cooks, short order are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.