Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Illinois
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Illinois earn a median of $37,440 a year ($18.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 22,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,130 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $37,450. Illinois ranks 25th of 51 states for cooks, institution and cafeteria pay. There are 3.7 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $39,210, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $34,560 | $16.62 |
| Median | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| 75th percentile | $43,280 | $20.81 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,130 | $23.14 |
| Average (mean) | $39,210 | $18.85 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $3,120 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,560 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,440 |
| Weekly | $720 |
| Hourly | $18.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $38,330 | 550 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38,290 | 14,010 |
| Bloomington, IL | $37,950 | 520 |
| Decatur, IL | $36,750 | 170 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $36,200 | 5,410 |
| Peoria, IL | $35,980 | 790 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,740 | 840 |
| Springfield, IL | $35,600 | 460 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $35,310 | 440 |
| Kankakee, IL | $35,200 | 230 |
| Rockford, IL | $34,580 | 690 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $33,880 | 200 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,580 | $18.07 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Cooks, All Other | $35,940 | $17.28 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,910 | $16.30 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| 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 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,830 | $28.29 |
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 35-2012. 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 cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Illinois?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Illinois is $37,440 a year, or $18.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Illinois?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Illinois earn at least $48,130 a year. The top 25% earn $43,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $34,560 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Illinois?
About 22,840 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.