Cooks, Short Order Salary in Salem, OR

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Salem, OR

Median annual salary $35,590 -0.1% vs national
Median hourly $17.11
10th percentile $29,260
90th percentile $40,790
Employed locally 260
National median $35,620

Compare Cooks, Short Order salary & buying power

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Cooks, Short Order
in
Salem, OR
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,260
    25th
    $30,490
    50th (median)
    $35,590
    75th
    $39,350
    90th
    $40,790

    Salem economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $76,010 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 47% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 53% 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
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $44,090
    Colorado $44,090
    Amherst Town-Northampton, MA $43,790
    Worcester, MA $42,480
    Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area $42,290
    Anchorage, AK $39,940

    Related occupations in Salem, OR

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $33,320
    Waiters and Waitresses $33,470
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $44,110
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,560
    Food Preparation Workers $36,100
    Bartenders $31,160

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in Salem, OR is $17.11, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.17 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in Salem, OR is 0.1% below 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 Salem?

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $29,260 per year in Salem, OR. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,490.