Cooks, Fast Food pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL), the median pay for cooks, fast food is $17.00 an hour ($35,360 a year). About 10,460 people work in this job there.
That is 14% higher than the U.S. median ($30,890). It is about the same as the Illinois median ($34,960).
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| 25% of workers | $15.89 | $33,040 |
| Half of workers (median) | $17.00 | $35,360 |
| 75% of workers | $18.13 | $37,710 |
| 90% of workers | $19.94 | $41,480 |
Cooks, Fast Food pay in Illinois metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (this page) | $35,360 | 10,460 |
| Rockford | $33,380 | 310 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $32,840 | 230 |
| Peoria | $32,340 | 340 |
| Kankakee | $31,900 | 80 |
| Bloomington | $31,430 | 170 |
Illinois unemployment rate: 4.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, fast food
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +0.6% over ten years, little or no change · about 86,400 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,630 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,930 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $35,410 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,290 |
| Bakers | $37,230 |
| Food Batchmakers | $47,660 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $40,410 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,280 |
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.