Cooks, Short Order salary in Illinois
Cooks, Short Order in Illinois earn a median of $37,440 a year ($18.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,630 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,950 for the top 10%. That is 4% higher than the national median of $35,880. Illinois ranks 19th of 49 states for cooks, short order pay. There are 0.43 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.48). The average (mean) salary is $37,640, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $34,700 | $16.68 |
| Median | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| 75th percentile | $38,280 | $18.41 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| Average (mean) | $37,640 | $18.10 |
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 cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $38,490 | 910 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $37,440 | 1,780 |
| Rockford, IL | $34,150 | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $33,280 | 170 |
| Peoria, IL | $32,010 | 80 |
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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,580 | $18.07 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| 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 35-2015. 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 Illinois?
The median salary for cooks, short order in Illinois is $37,440 a year, or $18.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Illinois?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in Illinois earn at least $45,950 a year. The top 25% earn $38,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $34,700 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Illinois?
About 2,630 cooks, short order are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.