Baker salary in Illinois
Bakers in Illinois earn a median of $37,030 a year ($17.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,420 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,290 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $37,160. Illinois ranks 23rd of 51 states for bakers pay. There are 2.0 bakers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $38,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bakers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $34,680 | $16.67 |
| Median | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| 75th percentile | $44,260 | $21.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,290 | $22.74 |
| Average (mean) | $38,960 | $18.73 |
Half of bakers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,085.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,542.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,424.23 |
| Weekly | $712.12 |
| Hourly | $17.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Baker salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Kankakee, IL | $39,570 | 100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $37,230 | 9,920 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $36,580 | 250 |
| Rockford, IL | $35,870 | 210 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $35,830 | 2,000 |
| Springfield, IL | $34,540 | 160 |
| Peoria, IL | $34,470 | 270 |
| Bloomington, IL | $34,440 | 150 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $34,210 | 250 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $29,950 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for bakers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $46,710 |
| Washington | $46,140 |
| District of Columbia | $44,040 |
| California | $43,120 |
| Colorado | $40,650 |
| Minnesota | $40,210 |
| Wyoming | $40,000 |
| Vermont | $39,980 |
| Alaska | $39,710 |
| Nevada | $39,540 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmaker | $48,130 | $23.14 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $39,240 | $18.86 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $40,690 | $19.56 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $44,950 | $21.61 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $45,340 | $21.80 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $42,670 | $20.51 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,140 | $21.22 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,200 | $36.16 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.75 |
| Machinist | $58,520 | $28.13 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,320 | $24.67 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $42,470 | $20.42 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in Illinois?
The median salary for bakers in Illinois is $37,030 a year, or $17.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bakers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of bakers in Illinois earn at least $47,290 a year. The top 25% earn $44,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for bakers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of bakers earn $34,680 or less.
How many bakers work in Illinois?
About 12,420 bakers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.