SOC 35-2015 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Short Order — Montana
Montana · 1 metro areas compared
At $33,240, median pay for Cooks, Short Order in Montana tracks the national median of $35,880 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $33,240, median pay for Cooks, Short Order in Montana tracks the national median of $35,880 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $32,560 and $33,710. The lowest tenth earn under $29,890, while the highest tenth earn more than $36,310.
Among the 49 states with published data for this occupation, Montana ranks 28th by median wage. Great Falls leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $32,370. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 581st of 604 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29,890 | −16.7% |
| 25th | $32,560 | −9.3% |
| Median (50th) | $33,240 | −7.4% |
| 75th | $33,710 | −6.0% |
| 90th | $36,310 | +1.2% |
| Mean | $33,420 | −6.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Montana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Falls | $32,370 | — |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Montana run 5.4% below the national average, so the median of $33,240 goes as far as $35,137 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$33,240as reported by BLSLocal price level
94.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,137US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $33,240 a year, 7.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $29,890 to $36,310 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 28th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Great Falls, at $32,370.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Short Order in Montana?
The median annual wage is $33,240, or $15.98 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $35,880, so pay in Montana is 7.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Montana earns more than $36,310 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $29,890 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Great Falls, at $32,370 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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