Career Paths From Cooks, Short Order

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Food Preparation WorkersLateral Move93.4% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Food Preparation Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Food Preparation Workers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$35,320
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Fast Food and Counter WorkersLateral Move93.4% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Fast Food and Counter Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Fast Food and Counter Workers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 13% lower.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$31,200
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersLateral Move95.7% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 5% lower.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$33,980
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Food Servers, NonrestaurantLateral Move92.7% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Food Servers, Nonrestaurant share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Food Servers, Nonrestaurant sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$35,360
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Waiters and WaitressesLateral Move93.8% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Waiters and Waitresses share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Waiters and Waitresses sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$35,230
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Flight AttendantsCareer Change94.7% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Flight Attendants share a similar Transferable Skills profile (95% match). Flight Attendants is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 77% higher.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$63,580
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Maids and Housekeeping CleanersCareer Change95.7% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$35,510
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Stockers and Order FillersCareer Change93.1% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Stockers and Order Fillers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Stockers and Order Fillers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 4% higher.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$37,330
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
BartendersLateral Move93.6% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Bartenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Bartenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Median salary is about 4% lower.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$34,340
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Postal Service ClerksCareer Change92.5% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Postal Service Clerks share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Postal Service Clerks is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 73% higher.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$62,130
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Animal CaretakersCareer Change93% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Animal Caretakers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Animal Caretakers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$35,360
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Pharmacy TechniciansCareer Change92.3% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Pharmacy Technicians share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Pharmacy Technicians is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is higher (3 vs 2). Median salary is about 28% higher.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$45,750
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
3
Pharmacy AidesCareer Change92.6% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Pharmacy Aides share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Pharmacy Aides is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 5% higher.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$37,680
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Office Clerks, GeneralCareer Change93.3% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Office Clerks, General share a similar Transferable Skills profile (93% match). Office Clerks, General is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 25% higher.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$45,010
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2
Gambling Cage WorkersCareer Change93.6% skill match
Cooks, Short Order and Gambling Cage Workers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (94% match). Gambling Cage Workers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 5% higher.
Current median salary
$35,880
Target median salary
$37,580
Current Job Zone
2
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.