Cooks, Restaurant pay in Peoria

In Peoria (IL), the median pay for cooks, restaurant is $17.33 an hour ($36,040 a year). About 1,420 people work in this job there.

$17.33Median hourly pay
$31,570–$37,300Middle half of workers, yearly
1,420People in this job in Peoria (IL)

That is 4% lower than the U.S. median ($37,390). It is 4% lower than the Illinois median ($37,580).

Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Peoria (IL)

Earns more thanHourlyYearly
10% of workers$15.00$31,200
25% of workers$15.18$31,570
Half of workers (median)$17.33$36,040
75% of workers$17.94$37,300
90% of workers$20.73$43,120

Cooks, Restaurant pay in Illinois metro areas

Metro areaMedian yearly payPeople in this job
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin$38,93041,690
Springfield$36,550850
Decatur$36,440320
Rockford$36,2001,130
Champaign-Urbana$36,040970
Peoria (this page)$36,0401,420
Kankakee$35,560320
Bloomington$35,310850

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)

Other job titles for this job

CookFRY CookGrill CookLine CookSpecialty CookPrep CookBack Line CookBanquet CookBreakfast CookForeign Food Specialty CookHotel CookLarder Cook

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Source: 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.