Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Illinois
In Illinois, the median pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria is $18.00 an hour ($37,440 a year). About 22,840 people work in this job there.
That is about the same as the U.S. median ($37,450). Illinois ranks 25th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Illinois
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| 25% of workers | $16.62 | $34,560 |
| Half of workers (median) | $18.00 | $37,440 |
| 75% of workers | $20.81 | $43,280 |
| 90% of workers | $23.14 | $48,130 |
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Illinois metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Champaign-Urbana | $38,330 | 550 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $38,290 | 14,010 |
| Bloomington | $37,950 | 520 |
| Decatur | $36,750 | 170 |
| Peoria | $35,980 | 790 |
| Springfield | $35,600 | 460 |
| Kankakee | $35,200 | 230 |
| Rockford | $34,580 | 690 |
Illinois unemployment rate: 4.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, institution and cafeteria
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +2.8% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 62,900 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,910 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,580 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,470 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $34,850 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,960 |
| Bakers | $37,030 |
| Food Service Managers | $63,930 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,830 |
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.