Waiters and Waitresses pay in Illinois
In Illinois, the median pay for waiters and waitresses is $15.00 an hour ($31,200 a year). About 72,900 people work in this job there.
That is 11% lower than the U.S. median ($35,230). Illinois ranks 28th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses in Illinois
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| 25% of workers | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| Half of workers (median) | $15.00 | $31,200 |
| 75% of workers | $15.73 | $32,720 |
| 90% of workers | $23.78 | $49,470 |
Waiters and Waitresses pay in Illinois metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $31,200 | 1,370 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $31,200 | 1,500 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $31,200 | 54,100 |
| Decatur | $31,200 | 530 |
| Kankakee | $31,200 | 550 |
| Peoria | $31,200 | 2,340 |
| Rockford | $31,200 | 1,710 |
| Springfield | $31,200 | 1,600 |
Illinois unemployment rate: 4.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for waiters and waitresses
- 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: +2% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 423,100 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,910 |
| Bartenders | $31,200 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,470 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $34,850 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,080 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 |
| Food Service Managers | $63,930 |
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.