Cooks, Short Order Salary in Denver, CO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

Median annual salary $44,090 +23.8% vs national
Median hourly $21.20
10th percentile $40,470
90th percentile $63,170
Employed locally 1,160
National median $35,620

Compare Cooks, Short Order salary & buying power

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Cooks, Short Order
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Denver, CO
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,470
    25th
    $41,820
    50th (median)
    $44,090
    75th
    $61,750
    90th
    $63,170

    Denver economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,339 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 43% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 57% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Short Order

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,970
    Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,700
    Barnstable Town, MA $46,830
    Arizona $46,240
    Washington $46,010
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,010

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Short Order salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,010
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $44,270
    Colorado $44,090
    Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $42,290
    Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area $39,710
    Pueblo, CO $39,290

    Related occupations in Denver, CO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $36,310
    Waiters and Waitresses $33,870
    Cooks, Restaurant $43,420
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $50,540
    Bartenders $32,530
    Food Preparation Workers $39,300

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Short Order make per hour in Denver?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in Denver, CO is $21.20, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $31.17 or more per hour.

    Is Denver above or below average for Cooks, Short Order salaries?

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in Denver, CO is 23.8% above the national median of $35,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Short Order in Denver?

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $40,470 per year in Denver, CO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $41,820.