Careers · Cooks, Short Order · Illinois
Cooks, Short Order in Illinois
Short order cooks prepare and cook food quickly in restaurant kitchens, diners, and fast-casual establishments. They handle orders for items like eggs, burgers, sandwiches, and other meals that require minimal prep time In Illinois the median pay is $37,440 a year, 4% above the national median of $35,880.
$37,440median pay in Illinois, per year
$34,700–$38,280middle half earn
2,630employed in Illinois
$35,880U.S. median, for comparison
Are you suited for this?
Four short assessments and your background, scored against cooks, short order and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against cooks, short order and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
What it takes
Preparation: Some preparation (usually high school; some on-the-job training). Most hold a high school diploma.
Skills that matter most
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningTime ManagementSpeakingCoordinationService OrientationCritical ThinkingMonitoring
Knowledge areas
Food ProductionCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageProduction and Processing
Full profile, interests that fit, certifications and training: Cooks, Short Order.
Licenses and training in Illinois
Cooks, Short Order pay in other states
Arizona · $46,630Rhode Island · $46,250Massachusetts · $44,290Hawaii · $43,110California · $42,930Washington · $42,760Colorado · $42,450Connecticut · $42,450District of Columbia · $42,450New Jersey · $40,720
Related occupations
Cooks, Fast FoodCooks, Institution and CafeteriaCooks, Private HouseholdCooks, RestaurantCooks, All OtherFood Preparation WorkersChefs and Head CooksFirst-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers
Are you suited for this?
Four short assessments and your background, scored against cooks, short order and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
Four short assessments and your background, scored against cooks, short order and 13,000 other careers — with the reasons. Free.
O*NET-SOC 35-2015.00. Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Illinois, annual.