Cooks, Short Order Salary in Boston, MA
Cooks, Short Order in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $39,600 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,239 take-home, or $2,687 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, short order salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,572
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,455
- Medicare (1.45%)$574
- Massachusetts income tax$1,760
- Take-home pay$32,239
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Short Order pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,550 | $15.65 | $26,926 | $2,244 |
| 25th percentile | $33,400 | $16.06 | $27,567 | $2,297 |
| Median (50th) | $39,600 | $19.04 | $32,239 | $2,687 |
| 75th percentile | $50,950 | $24.50 | $40,791 | $3,399 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $53,780 | $25.86 | $42,923 | $3,577 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $39,600 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, short order's $32,239 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,777 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Boston, MA has 1.9× the national concentration of cooks, short order jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for cooks, short order, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #4 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $45,790 | $37,556 | $32,484 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $43,680 | $35,973 | $31,675 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $39,650 | $32,826 | $30,147 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $39,600 | $32,239 | $29,777 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $35,360 | $29,279 | $26,011 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
About the job: cooks, short order
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.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -5.2% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, short order make in Boston, MA?
The median cooks, short order salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $39,600 a year, or about $19.04 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,400 and $50,950.
What is a cooks, short order’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $39,600 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $32,239 a year ($2,687 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,760 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a cooks, short order?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $35,880. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,777 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #4 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, short order afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 85% of a median cooks, short order’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Boston, MA
- Chef and Head Cook — $72,470
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $48,530
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $47,090
- Cooks, Restaurant — $45,830
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,660
- Waiter and Waitress — $39,270
- Bartender — $37,760
- Dishwasher — $37,750
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $37,330
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $36,290
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $35,140
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $34,780