Cooks, Short Order salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Cooks, Short Order in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $50,870 a year ($24.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 830 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,660 for the top 10%. That is 42% higher than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 19% higher than the Washington statewide median of $42,760. There are 0.40 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.45). The average (mean) salary is $49,560, close to the median.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,550 | $19.02 |
| 25th percentile | $46,610 | $22.41 |
| Median | $50,870 | $24.46 |
| 75th percentile | $53,900 | $25.92 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,660 | $26.76 |
| Average (mean) | $49,560 | $23.83 |
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 | $4,239.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,119.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,956.54 |
| Weekly | $978.27 |
| Hourly | $24.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $50,870 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $43,830 | $21.07 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $44,030 | $21.17 |
| Cooks, All Other | $53,910 | $25.92 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $39,150 | $18.82 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $57,280 | $27.54 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| Bartender | $58,180 | $27.97 |
| Dishwasher | $42,750 | $20.55 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $38,430 | $18.48 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $40,640 | $19.54 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $80,330 | $38.62 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $45,120 | $21.69 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $50,870 a year, or $24.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $55,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $55,660 a year. The top 25% earn $53,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,550 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $46,610 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 830 cooks, short order are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.