Prevailing Wage for Cooks, Short Order
Prevailing wage for Cooks, Short Order (SOC 35-2015) is set by DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether you're filing as a Grill Cook, Broiler Cook, or Line Cook, DOL assigns four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly depending on which U.S. city the worksite is in.
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Level 1 covers entry-level short-order cooks with limited experience, typically performing routine prep and cooking tasks under direct supervision. Workers at this level follow established procedures with minimal independent judgment and little variation in daily duties.
Level 2 applies to qualified cooks with some hands-on experience handling a range of menu items and basic station rotation. This is the most common filing level for Cooks, Short Order, reflecting typical journeyman kitchen workers who need moderate oversight.
Level 3 covers experienced short-order cooks who work independently across multiple stations, handle higher-volume or more varied menus, and may informally guide newer staff. These workers apply consistent judgment with minimal direct supervision in their day-to-day tasks.
Level 4 applies to fully competent lead cooks who set kitchen procedures, coordinate station coverage, and resolve operational issues without supervision. This level typically reflects senior or shift-lead roles with broad responsibility over food preparation and kitchen workflow.
Prevailing Wage for Cooks, Short Order by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Cooks, Short Order and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch how employers title short-order cook roles
Job postings for Grill Cook, Deli Cook, or Line Cook sometimes get filed under broader culinary SOC codes. Confirm the LCA lists SOC 35-2015 so the correct short-order prevailing wage applies to your sponsored position.
Prioritize high-wage metros for cook sponsorships
Prevailing wage floors for short-order cooks in Kahului, Seattle, and Denver run substantially above the national median, while Puerto Rico metros sit well below it. Targeting worksite cities with stronger regional floors directly raises your minimum guaranteed wage.
Confirm your level matches actual kitchen duties
Employers filing at Level 1 for a cook who independently manages a station and covers multiple positions risk a DOL wage compliance issue. Duties like unaided station rotation or supervising prep staff push the filing to Level 3 or Level 4.
Find employers who sponsor short-order cook roles on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historically sponsored Cooks, Short Order positions, so you can focus your search on kitchens and food service operators with an active visa sponsorship track record rather than cold-applying to operations that rarely file.
Jobs for Cooks, Short Order are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Cooks, Short OrderPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 35-2015.00 alongside Cooks, Short Order, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Broiler Cook Prevailing Wage
Broiler Cook Prevailing Wage
Broiler Cook positions fall under SOC 35-2015.00 (Cooks, Short Order). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Cook Prevailing Wage
Cook Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Cook for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-2015.00 (Cooks, Short Order). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Deli Cook (Delicatessen Cook) Prevailing Wage
Deli Cook (Delicatessen Cook) Prevailing Wage
Deli Cook (Delicatessen Cook) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-2015.00 (Cooks, Short Order). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Food and Beverage Attendant Prevailing Wage
Food and Beverage Attendant Prevailing Wage
Food and Beverage Attendant positions fall under SOC 35-2015.00 (Cooks, Short Order). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Grill Cook Prevailing Wage
Grill Cook Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Grill Cook for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-2015.00 (Cooks, Short Order). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Line Cook Prevailing Wage
Line Cook Prevailing Wage
Line Cook is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-2015.00 (Cooks, Short Order). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Pizza Maker Prevailing Wage
Pizza Maker Prevailing Wage
Pizza Maker positions fall under SOC 35-2015.00 (Cooks, Short Order). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Prep Cook (Preparation Cook) Prevailing Wage
Prep Cook (Preparation Cook) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Prep Cook (Preparation Cook) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 35-2015.00 (Cooks, Short Order). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Short Order Cook Prevailing Wage
Short Order Cook Prevailing Wage
Short Order Cook is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 35-2015.00 (Cooks, Short Order). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Snack Bar Cook Prevailing Wage
Snack Bar Cook Prevailing Wage
Snack Bar Cook positions fall under SOC 35-2015.00 (Cooks, Short Order). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Cooks, Short Order?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to establish prevailing wages for SOC 35-2015. Wages are calculated from employer-reported pay surveys across metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification publishes these figures, and employers must pay at or above the applicable level when sponsoring a cook for an H-1B, E-3, or PERM-based green card.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
DOL defines four levels based on experience, supervision, and job complexity. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is qualified with moderate oversight; Level 3 is experienced with significant independence; Level 4 is fully competent with broad responsibility, often in a lead or senior role. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision structure described in your job offer, not just the title.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same cook role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates wages from regional OES surveys, so local labor market conditions directly set each metro's floor. A short-order cook position in Kahului or Seattle sits in a higher-cost labor market with stronger employer competition for kitchen workers than a rural or lower-cost metro. The LCA must list the actual worksite address, and the prevailing wage that applies is the one for that specific work location, not a national average.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot lawfully file an LCA for a sponsored cook at a wage below the applicable prevailing wage level. USCIS will reject or issue a Request for Evidence on petitions where the offered salary does not meet the DOL floor. If a discrepancy is discovered after filing, DOL enforcement can require back wages. An offer below the floor is not a negotiating position; it is a compliance failure the employer must correct before filing.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Cooks, Short Order position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up SOC 35-2015 wages by metropolitan area. Select the correct area matching your worksite city, choose the appropriate experience level, and note the wage shown for that combination. You can also review OFLC disclosure data to see what wages employers have actually listed on certified LCAs for short-order cook positions. Migrate Mate lets you filter by role and employer to see which operations have sponsored this occupation and in which locations.
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