Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Illinois
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Illinois earn a median of $33,910 a year ($16.30 an hour), based on BLS data for 127,590 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,330 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $31,200. Illinois ranks 14th of 51 states for fast food and counter workers pay. There are 21 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $33,910 | $16.30 |
| 75th percentile | $35,990 | $17.31 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Average (mean) | $34,280 | $16.48 |
Half of fast food and counter workers 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 | $2,825.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,412.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,304.23 |
| Weekly | $652.12 |
| Hourly | $16.30 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $34,630 | 97,280 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,640 | 3,630 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,350 | 1,760 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,300 | 2,890 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,260 | 19,170 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,220 | 1,220 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,200 | 2,430 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 4,810 |
| Decatur, IL | $31,200 | 970 |
| Peoria, IL | $31,200 | 3,260 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $29,810 | 520 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $27,640 | 1,160 |
Highest-paying states for fast food and counter workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $42,280 |
| Washington | $37,710 |
| District of Columbia | $37,430 |
| Colorado | $36,270 |
| Vermont | $36,030 |
| Massachusetts | $35,850 |
| Connecticut | $35,380 |
| Hawaii | $35,250 |
| New York | $35,250 |
| Oregon | $35,050 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,080 | $16.87 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,580 | $18.07 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,470 | $18.98 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $36,180 | $17.39 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $58,830 | $28.29 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $38,880 | $18.69 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,440 | $18.00 |
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 35-3023. 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 fast food and counter workers make in Illinois?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in Illinois is $33,910 a year, or $16.30 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $37,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in Illinois earn at least $37,330 a year. The top 25% earn $35,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $31,200 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Illinois?
About 127,590 fast food and counter workers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.