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SOC 35-2015·Food Preparation & Serving
Cooks, Short Order
Median wage
$37,873
10-yr outlook
+11.7%by 2032
Openings / year
1,152
Workers in NY
—
How pay grows with experience
Cooks, Short Order — typical pay by experience
Annual wages statewide: starting out, typical (median), and experienced.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting out (entry) | $33,553 |
| Median (typical) | $37,873 |
| Experienced | $42,042 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
Where it pays most across New York
Median pay for this occupation by region. Select a region for its full profile.
Cooks, Short Order — median pay by region
Regional median annual wage, highest first.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Finger Lakes | $40,049 |
| New York City | $39,300 |
| Long Island | $39,166 |
| Capital Region | $37,477 |
| Hudson Valley | $36,942 |
| Southern Tier | $36,735 |
| Central New York | $36,364 |
| North Country | $35,883 |
| Western New York | $35,013 |
| Mohawk Valley | $34,947 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
A realistic next step
Higher-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Food Preparation & Serving) that pay more than this one. A plain “same field, higher pay” guide — not a skills-match score.
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$38,126 median (+$253) · +21.1% by 2032
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$39,090 median (+$1,217) · +23.1% by 2032
- Cooks, Restaurant$41,024 median (+$3,151) · +20.5% by 2032
- Cooks, All Other$43,414 median (+$5,541)
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$46,442 median (+$8,569) · +22.1% by 2032
- Waiters and Waitresses$47,783 median (+$9,910) · +12.2% by 2032
Ways in
Lower-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Food Preparation & Serving) that pay less than this one — often earlier-career roles or a way in.
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$37,826 median (−$47) · +21.4% by 2032
- Food Preparation Workers$37,049 median (−$824) · +9.4% by 2032
- Dishwashers$36,415 median (−$1,458) · +11.6% by 2032
- Fast Food and Counter Workers$36,270 median (−$1,603) · +17.9% by 2032
- Cooks, Fast Food$35,136 median (−$2,737) · +8.6% by 2032
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$34,296 median (−$3,577) · +15.9% by 2032
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