Cooks, Restaurant salary in Kankakee, IL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Kankakee, IL metro area earn a median of $35,560 a year ($17.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,250 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $37,390. Pay here is 5% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $37,580. There are 7.6 cooks, restaurant per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $36,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, restaurant in Kankakee, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $35,560 | $17.09 |
| 75th percentile | $37,730 | $18.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,250 | $21.27 |
| Average (mean) | $36,430 | $17.51 |
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 | $2,963.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,481.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,367.69 |
| Weekly | $683.85 |
| Hourly | $17.09 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38,930 | 41,690 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $37,690 | 12,970 |
| 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 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,480 | 1,560 |
| Bloomington, IL | $35,310 | 850 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $34,870 | 380 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $31,200 | 490 |
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 Kankakee, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $35,200 | $16.92 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $31,900 | $15.34 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,220 | $15.01 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,320 | $17.94 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $32,430 | $15.59 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $47,160 | $22.67 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Kankakee, IL
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 Kankakee, IL?
The median salary for cooks, restaurant in the Kankakee, IL metro area is $35,560 a year, or $17.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, restaurant make in Kankakee, IL?
The top 10% of cooks, restaurant in the Kankakee, IL metro area earn at least $44,250 a year. The top 25% earn $37,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, restaurant in Kankakee, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of cooks, restaurant earn $31,200 or less.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Kankakee, IL?
About 320 cooks, restaurant are employed in the Kankakee, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.