Cooks, Short Order salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Cooks, Short Order in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $39,650 a year ($19.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,850 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,060 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 7% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $42,450. There are 1.2 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $36,840 | $17.71 |
| Median | $39,650 | $19.06 |
| 75th percentile | $42,520 | $20.44 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,060 | $22.62 |
| Average (mean) | $40,010 | $19.24 |
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 | $3,304.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,652.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,525 |
| Weekly | $762.50 |
| Hourly | $19.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $39,650 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 other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $36,460 | 1,940 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $36,250 | 110 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $31,840 | 110 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $31,360 | 1,340 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $30,670 | 60 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $30,510 | 120 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $30,160 | 70 |
| Richmond, VA | $29,280 | 300 |
| Roanoke, VA | $29,260 | 130 |
| Morgantown, WV | $29,210 | 70 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $27,830 | 810 |
| Charleston, WV | $27,590 | 80 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $27,590 | 70 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $26,470 | 80 |
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 District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $42,920 | $20.64 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $37,630 | $18.09 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Cooks, All Other | $31,880 | $15.33 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,600 | $16.64 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $46,040 | $22.14 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $47,580 | $22.87 |
| Bartender | $48,030 | $23.09 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| Dishwasher | $37,010 | $17.79 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $36,360 | $17.48 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $74,900 | $36.01 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $39,650 a year, or $19.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $47,060 a year. The top 25% earn $42,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $36,840 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 3,850 cooks, short order are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.