Cooks, Short Order salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Cooks, Short Order in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $37,440 a year ($18.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,780 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,950 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $37,440. There are 0.40 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.44). The average (mean) salary is $38,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,770 | $16.72 |
| 25th percentile | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| Median | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| 75th percentile | $41,850 | $20.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,950 | $22.57 |
| Average (mean) | $38,980 | $18.74 |
Half of cooks, short order 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, Short Order salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $38,490 | 910 |
| Rockford, IL | $34,150 | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $33,280 | 170 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $32,180 | 580 |
| Peoria, IL | $32,010 | 80 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $30,240 | 170 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,630 | 260 |
| Bloomington, IN | $29,030 | 60 |
| Kokomo, IN | $28,670 | 30 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $28,430 | 70 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,390 | 40 |
| Muncie, IN | $28,030 | 50 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $21,940 | 50 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $21,440 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for cooks, short order
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,630 |
| Rhode Island | $46,250 |
| Massachusetts | $44,290 |
| Hawaii | $43,110 |
| California | $42,930 |
| Washington | $42,760 |
| Colorado | $42,450 |
| Connecticut | $42,450 |
| District of Columbia | $42,450 |
| New Jersey | $40,720 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,930 | $18.72 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,410 | $17.02 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| 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 35-2015. 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, short order make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $37,440 a year, or $18.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,770 for the lowest-paid 10% to $46,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $46,950 a year. The top 25% earn $41,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,770 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $36,010 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 1,780 cooks, short order are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.