These Are The 10 States With The Highest Short Order Cook Salaries For 2026

Top 10 States for Short Order Cook Salaries in 2026

When considering a career as a short order cook, one of the most crucial factors for job seekers is salary. Understanding how much short order cooks earn in different states can provide valuable insight for anyone looking to enter or advance in this field.

While individual salaries may vary based on experience, location, and establishment type, we’ve compiled the most recent average salaries for short order cooks across the United States, categorized by state and seniority level. These averages are drawn from reliable data sources and reflect the current landscape in 2026.

To analyze salary trends, we utilized updated information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics regarding short order cook pay across various states. Furthermore, we adjusted these salaries based on the cost of living in each state, as the purchasing power of earnings can differ significantly from one location to another. For example, a salary in North Carolina will afford a different lifestyle compared to one in California.

So, which state offers the highest adjusted salary for short order cooks? Let’s take a look at the top ten states where short order cooks can maximize their earnings.

Now, let’s explore how we arrived at these figures and review the complete ranking of all states.

If you’re interested in further insights about job opportunities, check out these articles:

Methodology for Determining Pay by State

In our analysis, we sourced average annual salary data for short order cooks from the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, specifically their ‘Occupational Employment Statistics.’ This reflects the current job market as of 2026.

To ensure a fair comparison of salaries across states, we accounted for the cost of living in each area. We created an index by dividing the average wage for each state by its cost of living, relative to the national average. For example, if the cost of living index in California is 135.9 and the average annual pay is $25,890, our adjusted salary would be calculated as:

$25,890 * (100 / 135.9) = $19,050

We then ranked each state based on this index, with the highest adjusted salary ranking at the top. Here’s the full ranking of short order cook salaries by state.

Comprehensive List of Short Order Cook Salaries by State

Rank	State	Adjusted Salary	Average Wage	Cost Of Living
1	Nevada	$28,635	$29,580	103.3
2	New Mexico	$28,611	$27,610	96.5
3	Utah	$28,440	$26,450	93.0
4	Nebraska	$25,851	$23,680	91.6
5	Michigan	$25,303	$22,520	89.0
6	Washington	$25,256	$26,570	105.2
7	Texas	$24,928	$22,610	90.7
8	Florida	$24,760	$24,340	98.3
9	Colorado	$24,585	$25,520	103.8
10	Illinois	$24,450	$23,130	94.6
11	North Dakota	$24,416	$24,270	99.4
12	Minnesota	$24,146	$24,340	100.8
13	Arizona	$23,918	$23,440	98.0
14	Idaho	$23,778	$21,900	92.1
15	Arkansas	$23,731	$20,670	87.1
16	Mississippi	$23,562	$20,240	85.9
17	Georgia	$23,544	$21,520	91.4
18	Wyoming	$23,420	$21,500	91.8
19	Indiana	$23,139	$20,710	89.5
20	Pennsylvania	$23,057	$23,380	101.4
21	Vermont	$23,030	$27,890	121.1
22	Ohio	$22,793	$21,380	93.8
23	Kentucky	$22,585	$20,440	90.5
24	Kansas	$22,580	$20,300	89.9
25	Alabama	$22,510	$20,530	91.2
26	Missouri	$22,455	$20,300	90.4
27	Virginia	$22,450	$22,630	100.8
28	Wisconsin	$22,407	$21,690	96.8
29	West Virginia	$22,398	$20,920	93.4
30	Tennessee	$22,225	$19,870	89.4
31	Iowa	$22,043	$20,060	91.0
32	Montana	$21,904	$22,080	100.8
33	Delaware	$21,903	$22,210	101.4
34	Oklahoma	$21,838	$19,480	89.2
35	North Carolina	$21,767	$20,440	93.9
36	Alaska	$21,662	$28,400	131.1
37	Rhode Island	$21,259	$25,660	120.7
38	South Dakota	$21,243	$22,030	103.7
39	Louisiana	$21,139	$20,040	94.8
40	Connecticut	$20,775	$26,530	127.7
41	Oregon	$20,622	$23,840	115.6
42	Maine	$20,451	$22,660	110.8
43	New Jersey	$20,237	$24,670	121.9
44	South Carolina	$19,334	$19,180	99.2
45	Maryland	$19,147	$24,030	125.5
46	California	$19,050	$25,890	135.9
47	New Hampshire	$17,854	$20,890	117.0
48	New York	$17,816	$23,340	131.0
49	Hawaii	$15,860	$26,630	167.9

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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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