Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Illinois
Chefs and Head Cooks in Illinois earn a median of $58,830 a year ($28.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,290 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,420 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $62,470. Illinois ranks 35th of 51 states for chefs and head cooks pay. There are 1.4 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $62,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,330 | $19.39 |
| 25th percentile | $50,000 | $24.04 |
| Median | $58,830 | $28.29 |
| 75th percentile | $73,620 | $35.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,420 | $42.51 |
| Average (mean) | $62,810 | $30.20 |
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 | $4,902.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,451.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,262.69 |
| Weekly | $1,131.35 |
| Hourly | $28.29 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in cities in Illinois
| 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 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $48,040 | 130 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,910 | $16.30 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,580 | $18.07 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,080 | $16.87 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $36,180 | $17.39 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,880 | $18.69 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,440 | $18.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in Illinois is $58,830 a year, or $28.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Illinois?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in Illinois earn at least $88,420 a year. The top 25% earn $73,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,330 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $50,000 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Illinois?
About 8,290 chefs and head cooks are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.