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Best states for a short order cook
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for short order cooks in the United States. Short order cook positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for short order cooks.As short order cooks are popular in the U.S., we wanted to bring you a list of the best states for short order cooks. In case you are trying to decide where to start your career as a short order cook, or if you are considering moving to a different city or state, we got you covered.
We figured that the best places for short order cook jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that the South is best for short order cooks, and the West is the worst. Anaheim, CA is the best city in the country for short order cook jobs, where as Connecticut is the best state in the country.
10 best states for short order cooks in 2025
1. Connecticut
Total short order cook jobs: 539 Average annual salary: $34,631 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Location Quotient: 0.74
2. Washington
Total short order cook jobs: 922 Average annual salary: $38,119 Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $47,000 Location Quotient: 0.58
3. Wyoming
Total short order cook jobs: 113 Average annual salary: $31,512 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
4. Oregon
Total short order cook jobs: 584 Average annual salary: $34,702 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Location Quotient: 0.64
5. Massachusetts
Total short order cook jobs: 1,353 Average annual salary: $34,393 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $41,000 Location Quotient: 0.67
6. North Dakota
Total short order cook jobs: 152 Average annual salary: $31,440 Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 0.75
7. California
Total short order cook jobs: 4,700 Average annual salary: $35,933 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Location Quotient: 0.73
8. Colorado
Total short order cook jobs: 1,361 Average annual salary: $31,178 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
9. Alaska
Total short order cook jobs: 132 Average annual salary: $32,978 Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Location Quotient: 0.72
10. Idaho
Total short order cook jobs: 314 Average annual salary: $30,832 Lowest 10 percent earn: $24,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $38,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
Short order cook jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a short order cook
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a short order cook
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $34,631 | $28,000 | 3,588,184 | 539 |
| 2 | Washington | $38,119 | $30,000 | 7,405,743 | 922 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $31,512 | $25,000 | 579,315 | 113 |
| 4 | Oregon | $34,702 | $27,000 | 4,142,776 | 584 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $34,393 | $28,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,353 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $31,440 | $25,000 | 755,393 | 152 |
| 7 | California | $35,933 | $28,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,700 |
| 8 | Colorado | $31,178 | $24,000 | 5,607,154 | 1,361 |
| 9 | Alaska | $32,978 | $27,000 | 739,795 | 132 |
| 10 | Idaho | $30,832 | $24,000 | 1,716,943 | 314 |
| 11 | New York | $33,642 | $27,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,941 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $31,116 | $24,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,254 |
| 13 | Arizona | $29,133 | $23,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,650 |
| 14 | Utah | $29,957 | $23,000 | 3,101,833 | 663 |
| 15 | Maine | $30,744 | $26,000 | 1,335,907 | 218 |
| 16 | Nevada | $29,527 | $23,000 | 2,998,039 | 436 |
| 17 | Vermont | $31,706 | $26,000 | 623,657 | 82 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $32,095 | $25,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,173 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $34,442 | $27,000 | 693,972 | 89 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $30,013 | $24,000 | 1,059,639 | 154 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $27,829 | $22,000 | 5,795,483 | 1,070 |
| 22 | Maryland | $30,046 | $23,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,239 |
| 23 | Michigan | $26,670 | $21,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,705 |
| 24 | Texas | $26,616 | $21,000 | 28,304,596 | 6,179 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $26,744 | $21,000 | 12,805,537 | 2,496 |
| 26 | Virginia | $29,636 | $23,000 | 8,470,020 | 1,605 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $25,794 | $20,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,134 |
| 28 | Ohio | $26,139 | $20,000 | 11,658,609 | 2,427 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $25,425 | $20,000 | 6,715,984 | 1,972 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $27,595 | $21,000 | 1,920,076 | 417 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $27,980 | $22,000 | 869,666 | 143 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $29,051 | $24,000 | 1,342,795 | 213 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $31,110 | $26,000 | 1,427,538 | 133 |
| 34 | Montana | $28,052 | $22,000 | 1,050,493 | 216 |
| 35 | Iowa | $26,561 | $21,000 | 3,145,711 | 735 |
| 36 | Indiana | $25,523 | $20,000 | 6,666,818 | 1,761 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $26,665 | $21,000 | 2,088,070 | 414 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $25,186 | $20,000 | 3,930,864 | 1,090 |
| 39 | Delaware | $29,246 | $23,000 | 961,939 | 165 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $26,114 | $20,000 | 10,273,419 | 2,319 |
| 41 | Florida | $25,759 | $20,000 | 20,984,400 | 4,981 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $24,654 | $19,000 | 3,004,279 | 862 |
| 43 | Illinois | $26,189 | $20,000 | 12,802,023 | 2,555 |
| 44 | Georgia | $25,497 | $20,000 | 10,429,379 | 2,205 |
| 45 | Missouri | $24,226 | $19,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,638 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $24,264 | $19,000 | 5,024,369 | 1,112 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $22,929 | $18,000 | 4,684,333 | 1,075 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $21,547 | $17,000 | 2,984,100 | 785 |
| 49 | Alabama | $23,298 | $18,000 | 4,874,747 | 932 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $22,408 | $17,000 | 1,815,857 | 340 |
| 51 | Kansas | $21,810 | $17,000 | 2,913,123 | 827 |
Highest paying states for short order cooks
| Rank | State | Avg. Short Order Cook Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $34,631 |
| 2 | Washington | $38,119 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $31,512 |
| 4 | Oregon | $34,702 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $34,393 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $31,440 |
| 7 | California | $35,933 |
| 8 | Colorado | $31,178 |
| 9 | Alaska | $32,978 |
| 10 | Idaho | $30,832 |
| 11 | New York | $33,642 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $31,116 |
| 13 | Arizona | $29,133 |
| 14 | Utah | $29,957 |
| 15 | Maine | $30,744 |
| 16 | Nevada | $29,527 |
| 17 | Vermont | $31,706 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $32,095 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $34,442 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $30,013 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $27,829 |
| 22 | Maryland | $30,046 |
| 23 | Michigan | $26,670 |
| 24 | Texas | $26,616 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $26,744 |
| 26 | Virginia | $29,636 |
| 27 | Kentucky | $25,794 |
| 28 | Ohio | $26,139 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $25,425 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $27,595 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $27,980 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $29,051 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $31,110 |
| 34 | Montana | $28,052 |
| 35 | Iowa | $26,561 |
| 36 | Indiana | $25,523 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $26,665 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $25,186 |
| 39 | Delaware | $29,246 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $26,114 |
| 41 | Florida | $25,759 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $24,654 |
| 43 | Illinois | $26,189 |
| 44 | Georgia | $25,497 |
| 45 | Missouri | $24,226 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $24,264 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $22,929 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $21,547 |
| 49 | Alabama | $23,298 |
| 50 | West Virginia | $22,408 |
| 51 | Kansas | $21,810 |
Short order cook best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025