What You Need to Know About Short Order Cook
Job Description: Prepare and cook to order a variety of foods that require only a short preparation time. May take orders from customers and serve patrons at counters or tables.
Daily Life Of a Short Order Cook
- Complete orders from steam tables, placing food on plates and serving customers at tables or counters.
- Take orders from customers and cook foods requiring short preparation times, according to customer requirements.
- Perform general cleaning activities in kitchen and dining areas.
- Grill, cook, and fry foods such as french fries, eggs, and pancakes.
- Order supplies and stock them on shelves.
- Grill and garnish hamburgers or other meats, such as steaks and chops.
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What Every Short Order Cook Should Know
These are the skills Short Order Cooks say are the most useful in their careers:
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Prep Cook (Preparation Cook)
- Grill Cook
- Food Clerk
- Hash Slinger
- Griddle Cook
Job Outlook for Short Order Cooks
In the United States, there were 185,900 jobs for Short Order Cook in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Short Order Cook. The BLS estimates 24,700 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Short Order Cook are Utah, Washington, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, Maine, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Short Order Cook
The average yearly salary of a Short Order Cook ranges between $18,190 and $34,370.

Short Order Cooks who work in Alaska, Hawaii, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Short Order Cooks make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $21,910 |
Alaska | $33,400 |
Arizona | $26,090 |
Arkansas | $24,900 |
California | $28,530 |
Colorado | $26,900 |
Connecticut | $29,430 |
Delaware | $22,230 |
District of Columbia | $31,010 |
Florida | $29,350 |
Georgia | $23,560 |
Hawaii | $29,920 |
Idaho | $21,050 |
Illinois | $24,770 |
Indiana | $21,270 |
Iowa | $21,810 |
Kansas | $23,220 |
Kentucky | $20,500 |
Louisiana | $21,270 |
Maine | $26,910 |
Maryland | $25,570 |
Massachusetts | $33,670 |
Michigan | $23,760 |
Minnesota | $27,370 |
Mississippi | $21,340 |
Missouri | $22,440 |
Montana | $25,010 |
Nebraska | $25,050 |
Nevada | $30,750 |
New Hampshire | $24,240 |
New Jersey | $25,030 |
New Mexico | $24,880 |
New York | $27,580 |
North Carolina | $21,920 |
North Dakota | $24,700 |
Ohio | $22,680 |
Oklahoma | $20,460 |
Oregon | $26,330 |
Pennsylvania | $27,180 |
Rhode Island | $27,890 |
South Carolina | $22,330 |
South Dakota | $24,070 |
Tennessee | $22,420 |
Texas | $22,880 |
Utah | $24,870 |
Vermont | $28,570 |
Virginia | $24,300 |
Washington | $29,690 |
West Virginia | $20,680 |
Wisconsin | $24,000 |
Wyoming | $22,380 |
What Tools do Short Order Cooks Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Short Order Cooks may use on a daily basis:
- Point of sale POS software
- Inventory control software
- Plexis Software Plexis POS
- RestaurantPlus PRO
- Aldelo Systems Aldelo for Restaurants Pro
- Foodman Home-Delivery
Becoming a Short Order Cook
What education is needed to be a Short Order Cook?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Short Order Cooks Sector

Short Order Cooks work in the following industries:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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