Cooks, Short Order salary in Rockford, IL
Cooks, Short Order in the Rockford, IL metro area earn a median of $34,150 a year ($16.42 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,600 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $35,880. Pay here is 9% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $37,440. There are 0.49 cooks, short order per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $35,350, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, short order in Rockford, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $34,150 | $16.42 |
| 75th percentile | $37,450 | $18.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Average (mean) | $35,350 | $17.00 |
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 | $2,845.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,422.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,313.46 |
| Weekly | $656.73 |
| Hourly | $16.42 |
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 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $37,440 | 1,780 |
| 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 |
See Cooks, Short Order pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Rockford, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,200 | $17.41 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $32,530 | $15.64 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $34,580 | $16.63 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $33,380 | $16.05 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,640 | $15.21 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $37,750 | $18.15 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $31,670 | $15.23 |
| Dishwasher | $31,570 | $15.18 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $47,740 | $22.95 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,200 | $15.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Rockford, IL
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 Rockford, IL?
The median salary for cooks, short order in the Rockford, IL metro area is $34,150 a year, or $16.42 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,600 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, short order make in Rockford, IL?
The top 10% of cooks, short order in the Rockford, IL metro area earn at least $41,600 a year. The top 25% earn $37,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, short order in Rockford, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of cooks, short order earn $31,200 or less.
How many cooks, short order work in Rockford, IL?
About 70 cooks, short order are employed in the Rockford, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.