Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL), the median pay for food servers, nonrestaurant is $17.15 an hour ($35,670 a year). About 12,200 people work in this job there.
That is about the same as the U.S. median ($35,360). It is 2% higher than the Illinois median ($35,080).
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL)
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| 25% of workers | $16.03 | $33,350 |
| Half of workers (median) | $17.15 | $35,670 |
| 75% of workers | $18.29 | $38,040 |
| 90% of workers | $21.16 | $44,010 |
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Illinois metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (this page) | $35,670 | 12,200 |
| Springfield | $34,800 | 240 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $34,580 | 330 |
| Decatur | $33,710 | 100 |
| Peoria | $33,700 | 490 |
| Bloomington | $33,540 | 230 |
| Kankakee | $32,430 | 240 |
| Rockford | $31,670 | 470 |
Illinois unemployment rate: 4.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for food servers, nonrestaurant
- Typical education to start: No formal educational credential (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: Up to 1 month (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +4.5% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 48,800 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin (IL)
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,630 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,930 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $35,410 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,290 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,720 |
| Dishwashers | $36,850 |
Other job titles for this job
Open food servers, nonrestaurant jobs on JAI Bot
No open jobs in this field right now. Search all jobs or set up a free job alert.
Hiring food servers, nonrestaurant? Use the free hiring guide for a job description and interview questions, then post the job on JAI Bot. Every job shows typical pay to job seekers.
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.