SOC 35-2015 · Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · May 2025
How much do Cooks, Short Order make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Cooks, Short Order in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $39,600. The 10th percentile is $32,550 and the 90th percentile is $53,780. Employment is 4,460.
Median annual wage
$39,600
- 10th percentile
- $32,550
- 25th percentile
- $33,400
- Median
- $39,600
- 75th percentile
- $50,950
- 90th percentile
- $53,780
- Mean
- $41,600
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

Percentile spread
For Cooks, Short Order, the published 10th percentile is $32,550 and the 90th percentile is $53,780. The difference is $21,230, which is 53.6% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.
The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $33,400 to the 75th at $50,950, covers $17,550.
The mean annual wage is $41,600, which sits above the median of $39,600. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.
National and state comparison
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH median is 10.4% higher than the national median of $35,880 for Cooks, Short Order. In 2024 national prices the local median is $36,577, which is 1.9% higher than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.
It is 10.6% lower than the Massachusetts median of $44,290.
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH covers more than one state. The state comparison uses Massachusetts, the primary state on the BLS area record.
Price-adjusted pay
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is 108.266, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $39,600 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Cooks, Short Order at $36,577 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.
Nearby metros
17 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Cooks, Short Order. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ranks 8th of 18 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).
- Manchester-Nashua, NH is 45 miles away, with a median of $30,840 and employment of 710. That median is 22.1% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $29,189, against $36,577 here.
- Worcester, MA is 49 miles away, with a median of $40,780 and employment of 340. That median is 3% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $39,776, against $36,577 here.
- Providence-Warwick, RI-MA is 58 miles away, with a median of $44,050 and employment of 520. That median is 11.2% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $43,283, against $36,577 here.
Employment share
Cooks, Short Order accounts for 0.16% of wage-and-salary employment in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (4,460 of 2,703,890). Nationally the occupation is 0.09% of employment (138,650 of 155,495,730). The local share is 1.85 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.
Highest-paying jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · Cooks, Short Order by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices
Questions this page answers
How much do Cooks, Short Order make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Cooks, Short Order in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $39,600. The 10th percentile is $32,550 and the 90th percentile is $53,780. Employment is 4,460.
How does that compare with the national median for Cooks, Short Order?
The local median is 10.4% higher than the national median of $35,880.
What is Cooks, Short Order pay in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH after local prices?
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is 108.266, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $39,600 is $36,577. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.
How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH compare with nearby metros for Cooks, Short Order?
Manchester-Nashua, NH is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 45 miles away, at $30,840. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH ranks 8th of 18 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.