Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Champaign-Urbana, IL
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn a median of $48,040 a year ($23.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $33,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,120 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 18% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $58,830. There are 1.2 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $53,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Champaign-Urbana, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,840 | $16.27 |
| 25th percentile | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| Median | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| 75th percentile | $60,890 | $29.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,120 | $35.15 |
| Average (mean) | $53,240 | $25.60 |
Half of chefs and head cooks 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 | $4,003.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,001.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,847.69 |
| Weekly | $923.85 |
| Hourly | $23.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $48,040 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $64,480 | 1,030 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $60,770 | 6,840 |
| Bloomington, IL | $55,700 | 100 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $48,850 | 180 |
| Springfield, IL | $48,100 | 100 |
| Peoria, IL | $47,800 | 190 |
| Rockford, IL | $47,740 | 130 |
| Kankakee, IL | $47,160 | 40 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $44,720 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Champaign-Urbana, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,040 | $17.33 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,850 | $15.31 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $33,330 | $16.03 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,580 | $16.63 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,840 | $15.79 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,990 | $15.38 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Champaign-Urbana, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. 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 chefs and head cooks make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area is $48,040 a year, or $23.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $33,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $73,120 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn at least $73,120 a year. The top 25% earn $60,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $33,840 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $46,430 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
About 130 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.