Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL), the median pay for chefs and head cooks is $29.22 an hour ($60,770 a year). About 6,840 people work in this job there.
That is 3% lower than the U.S. median ($62,470). It is 3% higher than the Illinois median ($58,830).
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $19.39 | $40,330 |
| 25% of workers | $25.00 | $51,990 |
| Half of workers (median) | $29.22 | $60,770 |
| 75% of workers | $35.39 | $73,620 |
| 90% of workers | $43.26 | $89,990 |
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Illinois metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (this page) | $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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,930 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,650 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,290 |
| Bakers | $37,230 |
| Food Service Managers | $65,620 |
| Food Batchmakers | $47,660 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,440 |
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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.