Cooks, Short Order Salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Cooks, Short Orders in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH make a median of $43,610 a year, or about $20.97 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $52K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.27), so that salary is closer to $40,279 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,941/month — about 98.9% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $44K get you in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
About cooks, short orders
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Entry-level cooks, short orders (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K.Top earners bring in $52K or more - a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Short Order pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $46K | +30% | N/A |
| Washington | $46K | +29% | 1,610 |
| Massachusetts | $45K | +26% | 4,100 |
| Hawaii | $41K | +15% | 600 |
| Alaska | $40K | +12% | 390 |
| Vermont | $39K | +10% | 600 |
| California | $39K | +10% | 34,490 |
| Nevada | $39K | +9% | N/A |
| District of Columbia | $38K | +8% | N/A |
| New Mexico | $38K | +7% | 1,020 |
| Connecticut | $37K | +4% | 410 |
| New York | $37K | +3% | N/A |
| Illinois | $37K | +3% | 1,380 |
| Utah | $37K | +3% | 520 |
| Oregon | $36K | +0% | 3,240 |
Track cooks, short order salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Boston-Cambridge-Newton numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, short orders make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median is $43,610 a year - that works out to about $20.97 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,940, and experienced cooks, short orders can clear $52,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,908/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,941/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 101.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb - housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cooks, short order salary go in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a Regional Price Parity of 108.27 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, short order salary is worth about $40,279 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, short orders get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.