Short Order Cook

Your Fit

Income

$35K

Preparation

Some

Growth

-6.1%

Definition
Your fit with this career
How much they earn
What they do
Job satisfaction
How to become

What is a Short Order Cook?

A Short Order Cook specializes in quickly preparing and serving simple dishes, often in casual dining settings like diners, cafes, and fast-food restaurants. They are adept at efficiently cooking and presenting a variety of foods in a fast-paced environment.

Sample job titles:

Cook, Grill Cook, Line Cook, Short Order Cook

Your test results

Why this fit score?

The fit report shows your areas of fit and misfit with Short Order Cook.

Fit report

Test scores

The scores report summarizes what we learned about you. It shows your results on everything measured in the career test.

Scores report

How much does a Short Order Cook earn

Income data is from Employment and Social Development Canada's 2024 wage tables. The closest match for this career in Canada’s occupational classification system is Short Order Cook.

Bottom 10%	Bottom 25%	Median (average)	Top 25%	Top 10%
$31K per year	$32K per year	$35K per year	$42K per year	$49K per year

Compared to other careers: Median is $30K below the national average.

See income by country/state/province

What does a Short Order Cook do?

Work environment

Short Order Cooks typically work in small kitchens of diners, fast-food establishments, cafes, or food trucks. The work environment is fast-paced and can be hectic, especially during peak dining hours. These cooks often work in tight spaces and under time pressure to deliver meals promptly.

Quick task list

Quickly prepares and cooks a variety of simple dishes.
Operates various kitchen equipment like grills, fryers, and microwaves.
Manages kitchen inventory and ensures ingredients are fresh.
Maintains cleanliness and sanitation in the cooking area.
Adapts to customer preferences and special dietary requests.

See full list of tasks with expert relevance ratings

Areas of specialization

Grill Cooking: Focusing on grilled items like burgers, steaks, and sandwiches.
Breakfast Cooking: Specializing in breakfast items such as eggs, pancakes, and waffles.
Fryer Operations: Concentrating on deep-fried foods like fries, onion rings, and chicken.
Healthy and Diet-Specific Cooking: Catering to health-conscious or dietary-restricted customers.

Description

The role of a Short Order Cook demands speed, efficiency, and the ability to handle multiple orders simultaneously. These cooks must have a good memory and be able to work quickly without sacrificing the quality of the food. Precision and attention to detail are crucial, as is the ability to adapt to fast-paced changes, such as switching between different types of orders and accommodating special customer requests.

This occupation requires minimal formal education, making it accessible to many. It offers valuable experience in food preparation and kitchen management, which can be beneficial for career progression in the culinary field. Short Order Cooks often develop excellent time management and multitasking skills, essential in any fast-paced work environment.

While the job can be demanding with its fast pace and high volume of orders, it offers a unique sense of accomplishment and immediacy. Seeing customers enjoy the food prepared is often a source of job satisfaction. Additionally, the position can offer flexibility in terms of hours, which might be appealing to those seeking non-traditional work schedules.

Job Satisfaction

Sources of satisfaction

The fast-paced nature of the work, providing a dynamic and engaging environment.
The immediate satisfaction of seeing customers enjoy the food.
Opportunities to develop and refine culinary skills quickly.

You might make a good Short Order Cook if you are...

Able to work efficiently and accurately under pressure.
Skilled at multitasking and managing multiple orders simultaneously.
A quick learner, adaptable to various cooking techniques and recipes.
Enjoy working in a team-oriented kitchen environment.
Interested in a culinary career and eager to gain practical cooking experience.

Pros:

Fast-paced work environment that's constantly engaging.
Opportunity to develop a wide range of cooking skills quickly.
Flexible hours, often with options for part-time work.
A stepping stone for further culinary career opportunities.

Cons:

High-pressure and potentially stressful during peak times.
Physically demanding, requiring long periods of standing.
Typically lower wages compared to other culinary positions.
Limited creative expression in food preparation.

How to become a Short Order Cook

Typical education

Formal education beyond a high school diploma is not typically required. Most skills are acquired through on-the-job training. Some short order cooks may attend culinary school or participate in vocational training programs, but this is not mandatory.

High school preparation

Courses:

Home Economics or Culinary Arts to learn basic cooking skills.
Time Management or Organizational Skills classes.
Basic Business or Math for understanding inventory and portion control.

Extra-Curricular Activities:

Participating in cooking clubs or culinary competitions.
Working part-time or summer jobs in food service or restaurants.
Volunteering for catering events or community kitchens.

Preparation after high school

Vocational training or culinary school for those seeking formal education.
Entry-level positions in kitchens to gain practical experience.
Short courses or workshops in specific cooking skills or food safety.

More resources

National Restaurant Association (NRA) - Offers resources and information about careers in the restaurant industry.
American Culinary Federation (ACF) - Provides educational resources and certification programs for various culinary professions.
ServSafe - Offers training and certification in food safety, a crucial aspect of kitchen work.
Culinary Institute of America (CIA) ProChef Certification - Offers certification programs that can enhance a cook's skills and credentials.

Similar careers

Similarity is based on what people in the careers do, what they know, and what they are called. The process of establishing similarity lists is described in this white paper.