Cooks, Restaurant salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Cooks, Restaurant in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $38,930 a year ($18.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 41,690 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,620 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 4% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $37,580. There are 9.2 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $40,450, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,150 | $15.46 |
| 25th percentile | $36,300 | $17.45 |
| Median | $38,930 | $18.72 |
| 75th percentile | $45,510 | $21.88 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,620 | $22.42 |
| Average (mean) | $40,450 | $19.45 |
Half of cooks, restaurant 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 | $3,244.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,622.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,497.31 |
| Weekly | $748.65 |
| Hourly | $18.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Cooks, Restaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $37,690 | 12,970 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,610 | 9,180 |
| Springfield, IL | $36,550 | 850 |
| Decatur, IL | $36,440 | 320 |
| Rockford, IL | $36,200 | 1,130 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $36,040 | 970 |
| Peoria, IL | $36,040 | 1,420 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,030 | 10,810 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $35,950 | 5,390 |
| Kankakee, IL | $35,560 | 320 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,480 | 1,560 |
| Bloomington, IL | $35,310 | 850 |
| Kokomo, IN | $35,300 | 370 |
| Bloomington, IN | $34,910 | 930 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $34,870 | 380 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $34,870 | 930 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $34,650 | 1,300 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $34,490 | 2,030 |
| Evansville, IN | $34,290 | 1,330 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $33,770 | 640 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $31,200 | 490 |
| Muncie, IN | $30,050 | 460 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $29,860 | 490 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $29,830 | 600 |
| Columbus, IN | $29,740 | 360 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, restaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $46,800 |
| District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| Hawaii | $45,420 |
| Vermont | $45,390 |
| Maine | $45,290 |
| California | $44,880 |
| New York | $43,680 |
| Oregon | $43,100 |
| Colorado | $41,600 |
See Cooks, Restaurant pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,410 | $17.02 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Cooks, All Other | $35,940 | $17.28 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,650 | $20.50 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,720 | $15.25 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| Dishwasher | $36,850 | $17.71 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,770 | $29.22 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2014. 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, restaurant make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $38,930 a year, or $18.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $46,620 a year. The top 25% earn $45,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,150 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $36,300 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 41,690 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.