Cooks, Short Order salary in Omaha, NE-IA
Cooks, Short Order in the Omaha, NE-IA metro area earn a median of $32,710 a year ($15.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 850 workers.
Pay ranges from $28,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,870 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 7% higher than the Nebraska statewide median of $30,530. There are 1.7 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $34,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Omaha, NE-IA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,080 | $13.50 |
| 25th percentile | $28,080 | $13.50 |
| Median | $32,710 | $15.73 |
| 75th percentile | $36,760 | $17.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,870 | $21.09 |
| Average (mean) | $34,110 | $16.40 |
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 | $2,725.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,362.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,258.08 |
| Weekly | $629.04 |
| Hourly | $15.73 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | $36,990 | 50 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $36,760 | 270 |
| Ames, IA | $36,070 | 60 |
| Iowa City, IA | $35,990 | 50 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $33,880 | 80 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $33,520 | 60 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $33,280 | 170 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $32,940 | 80 |
| Grand Island, NE | $31,060 | 80 |
| Lincoln, NE | $30,340 | 360 |
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 Nebraska statewide figures.
Related jobs in Omaha, NE-IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $36,140 | $17.37 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,840 | $18.19 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,220 | $15.01 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $34,290 | $16.48 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,740 | $19.59 |
| Bartender | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $28,500 | $13.70 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,170 | $14.99 |
| Dishwasher | $33,810 | $16.25 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $62,240 | $29.92 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $48,070 | $23.11 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Omaha, NE-IA
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 Omaha, NE-IA?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Omaha, NE-IA metro area is $32,710 a year, or $15.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $28,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Omaha, NE-IA?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Omaha, NE-IA metro area earn at least $43,870 a year. The top 25% earn $36,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Omaha, NE-IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $28,080 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $28,080 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Omaha, NE-IA?
About 850 cooks, short order are employed in the Omaha, NE-IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.