Food Preparation Worker salary in Champaign-Urbana, IL
Food Preparation Workers in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn a median of $31,850 a year ($15.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 660 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,780 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 9% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $34,850. There are 6.2 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Champaign-Urbana, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $31,850 | $15.31 |
| 75th percentile | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,780 | $20.09 |
| Average (mean) | $34,180 | $16.43 |
Half of food preparation 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 | $2,654.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,327.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,225 |
| Weekly | $612.50 |
| Hourly | $15.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35,410 | 27,100 |
| Decatur, IL | $33,450 | 200 |
| Rockford, IL | $32,530 | 720 |
| Springfield, IL | $32,530 | 510 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $32,400 | 6,220 |
| Peoria, IL | $32,140 | 770 |
| Bloomington, IL | $32,030 | 580 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 620 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 270 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,860 | 240 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $27,210 | 480 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Champaign-Urbana, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,040 | $17.33 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $32,840 | $15.79 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $33,330 | $16.03 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,580 | $16.63 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,990 | $15.38 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Champaign-Urbana, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2021. 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 food preparation worker make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area is $31,850 a year, or $15.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn at least $41,780 a year. The top 25% earn $35,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $31,200 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
About 660 food preparation workers are employed in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.