Food Preparation Worker salary in Illinois
Food Preparation Workers in Illinois earn a median of $34,850 a year ($16.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 34,820 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,990 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $35,320. Illinois ranks 25th of 51 states for food preparation workers pay. There are 5.7 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $36,260, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation workers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $34,850 | $16.75 |
| 75th percentile | $37,880 | $18.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,990 | $21.63 |
| Average (mean) | $36,260 | $17.43 |
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 | $2,904.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,452.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,340.38 |
| Weekly | $670.19 |
| Hourly | $16.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Preparation Worker salary in cities in Illinois
| 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 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,850 | 660 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,580 | $18.07 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $34,960 | $16.81 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| 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 35-2021. 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 Illinois?
The median salary for food preparation workers in Illinois is $34,850 a year, or $16.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in Illinois earn at least $44,990 a year. The top 25% earn $37,880 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Illinois?
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 Illinois?
About 34,820 food preparation workers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.