Cooks, Short Order salary in District of Columbia
Cooks, Short Order in District of Columbia earn a median of $42,450 a year ($20.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,910 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,060 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $35,880. District of Columbia ranks 9th of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 2.7 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $42,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,650 | $19.06 |
| 25th percentile | $39,650 | $19.06 |
| Median | $42,450 | $20.41 |
| 75th percentile | $42,570 | $20.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,060 | $22.62 |
| Average (mean) | $42,780 | $20.57 |
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 | $3,537.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,768.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,632.69 |
| Weekly | $816.35 |
| Hourly | $20.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,450 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Short Order salary in cities in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $39,650 | 3,850 |
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 District of Columbia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $46,130 | $22.18 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $39,600 | $19.04 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $44,670 | $21.48 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $45,450 | $21.85 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $47,850 | $23.01 |
| Bartender | $53,920 | $25.92 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $37,430 | $18.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| Dishwasher | $38,670 | $18.59 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $57,170 | $27.49 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $37,570 | $18.06 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $76,420 | $36.74 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,580 | $18.55 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in District of Columbia
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 District of Columbia?
The median salary for cooks, short order in District of Columbia is $42,450 a year, or $20.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in District of Columbia?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in District of Columbia earn at least $47,060 a year. The top 25% earn $42,570 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in District of Columbia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,650 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $39,650 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in District of Columbia?
About 1,910 cooks, short order are employed in District of Columbia, not counting the self-employed.