Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Illinois
In Illinois, the median pay for chefs and head cooks is $28.29 an hour ($58,830 a year). About 8,290 people work in this job there.
That is 6% lower than the U.S. median ($62,470). Illinois ranks 35th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Illinois
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $19.39 | $40,330 |
| 25% of workers | $24.04 | $50,000 |
| Half of workers (median) | $28.29 | $58,830 |
| 75% of workers | $35.39 | $73,620 |
| 90% of workers | $42.51 | $88,420 |
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Illinois metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $60,770 | 6,840 |
| Bloomington | $55,700 | 100 |
| Springfield | $48,100 | 100 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $48,040 | 130 |
| Peoria | $47,800 | 190 |
| Rockford | $47,740 | 130 |
| Kankakee | $47,160 | 40 |
Illinois unemployment rate: 4.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for chefs and head cooks
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: 5 years or more (BLS)
- Job outlook: +6.6% over ten years, faster than average · about 25,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,580 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,470 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,440 |
| Bakers | $37,030 |
| Food Batchmakers | $48,130 |
| Food Service Managers | $63,930 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,440 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.