Provided is a code reading device capable of reducing a time from start of reading of a symbol code until a decoded result is transmitted to an external device. The code reading device includes first and second CPUs that access a shared memory, an imaging element that optically reads the symbol code to generate a read image, and a DMAC that transfers the read image from the imaging element to the shared memory. The first CPU decodes the read image in the shared memory based on a command of the second CPU. The second CPU selectively executes any one of an imaging control task, a decode control task, and a decoded result transmission task, in which the imaging control task is given priority over the decode control task, and the decode control task is given priority over the decoded result transmission task.