Cooks, Restaurant pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $18.72 an hour ($38,930 a year). About 41,690 people work in this job there.
That is 4% higher than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is 4% higher than the Illinois median ($37,580).
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $15.46 | $32,150 |
| 25% of workers | $17.45 | $36,300 |
| Half of workers (median) | $18.72 | $38,930 |
| 75% of workers | $21.88 | $45,510 |
| 90% of workers | $22.42 | $46,620 |
Cooks, Restaurant pay in Illinois metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (this page) | $38,930 | 41,690 |
| Springfield | $36,550 | 850 |
| Decatur | $36,440 | 320 |
| Rockford | $36,200 | 1,130 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $36,040 | 970 |
| Peoria | $36,040 | 1,420 |
| Kankakee | $35,560 | 320 |
| Bloomington | $35,310 | 850 |
Illinois unemployment rate: 4.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for cooks, restaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 3 to 6 months (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +12.1% over ten years, much faster than average · about 218,600 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Food Preparation Workers | $35,410 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,290 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,360 |
| Bakers | $37,230 |
| Food Batchmakers | $47,660 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,770 |
| 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.