Cooks, Short Order salary in South Dakota
Cooks, Short Order in South Dakota earn a median of $32,380 a year ($15.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,000 workers.
Pay ranges from $27,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,440 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $35,880. South Dakota ranks 29th of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 4.4 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $34,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in South Dakota
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,950 | $13.44 |
| 25th percentile | $29,590 | $14.23 |
| Median | $32,380 | $15.57 |
| 75th percentile | $36,750 | $17.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,440 | $22.33 |
| Average (mean) | $34,180 | $16.44 |
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 | $2,698.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,349.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,245.38 |
| Weekly | $622.69 |
| Hourly | $15.57 |
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 South Dakota
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $35,570 | 660 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $33,880 | 80 |
| Rapid City, SD | $32,670 | 420 |
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 South Dakota
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $30,430 | $14.63 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,220 | $17.42 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $30,950 | $14.88 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,490 | $14.18 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $28,990 | $13.94 |
| Bartender | $29,400 | $14.14 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $40,640 | $19.54 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $29,920 | $14.39 |
| Dishwasher | $28,190 | $13.56 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $30,310 | $14.57 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $48,470 | $23.30 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,980 | $15.38 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in South Dakota
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 South Dakota?
The median salary for cooks, short order in South Dakota is $32,380 a year, or $15.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $27,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in South Dakota?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in South Dakota earn at least $46,440 a year. The top 25% earn $36,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in South Dakota?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $27,950 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $29,590 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in South Dakota?
About 2,000 cooks, short order are employed in South Dakota, not counting the self-employed.