Cooks, Short Order salary in Washington
Cooks, Short Order in Washington earn a median of $42,760 a year ($20.56 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,700 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,660 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $35,880. Washington ranks 6th of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 0.48 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.54). The average (mean) salary is $43,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,650 | $16.66 |
| 25th percentile | $36,000 | $17.31 |
| Median | $42,760 | $20.56 |
| 75th percentile | $50,870 | $24.46 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,660 | $26.76 |
| Average (mean) | $43,990 | $21.15 |
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 | $3,563.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,781.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,644.62 |
| Weekly | $822.31 |
| Hourly | $20.56 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $50,870 | 830 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $38,810 | 1,030 |
| Yakima, WA | $38,430 | 40 |
| Bellingham, WA | $38,160 | 30 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $35,030 | n/a |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $40,910 | $19.67 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| Cooks, All Other | $52,510 | $25.25 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,710 | $18.13 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $56,130 | $26.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $59,400 | $28.56 |
| Bartender | $55,830 | $26.84 |
| Dishwasher | $40,080 | $19.27 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $37,270 | $17.92 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $38,870 | $18.69 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $41,420 | $19.91 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $76,010 | $36.54 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for cooks, short order in Washington is $42,760 a year, or $20.56 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Washington?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in Washington earn at least $55,660 a year. The top 25% earn $50,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,650 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $36,000 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Washington?
About 1,700 cooks, short order are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.