Cooks, Short Order Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Cooks, Short Order in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $43,680 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,973 take-home, or $2,998 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, short order salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,062
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,708
- Medicare (1.45%)$633
- California income tax$737
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$568
- Take-home pay$35,973
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Cooks, Short Order pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,030 | $18.28 | $31,732 | $2,644 |
| 25th percentile | $40,060 | $19.26 | $33,256 | $2,771 |
| Median (50th) | $43,680 | $21.00 | $35,973 | $2,998 |
| 75th percentile | $44,990 | $21.63 | $36,956 | $3,080 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,020 | $21.64 | $36,978 | $3,082 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,680 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, short order's $35,973 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,675 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 2.2× 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
Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 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.
Cooks, Short Order salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $45,790
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, short order make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median cooks, short order salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $43,680 a year, or about $21.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,060 and $44,990.
What is a cooks, short order’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $43,680 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $35,973 a year ($2,998 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,304 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a cooks, short order?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $35,880. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,675 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #2 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, short order afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 75% of a median cooks, short order’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Chef and Head Cook — $69,990
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $46,970
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $45,400
- Cooks, Restaurant — $44,460
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $42,110
- Food Preparation Worker — $39,770
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $38,350
- Cooks, Fast Food — $38,000
- Dishwasher — $37,580
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $36,920
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $36,810
- Waiter and Waitress — $35,850