Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Illinois
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Illinois earn a median of $35,080 a year ($16.87 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,560 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,960 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $35,360. Illinois ranks 22nd of 51 states for food servers, nonrestaurant pay. There are 2.9 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $35,730, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,290 | $15.04 |
| Median | $35,080 | $16.87 |
| 75th percentile | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,960 | $20.17 |
| Average (mean) | $35,730 | $17.18 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant 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 | $2,923.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,461.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,349.23 |
| Weekly | $674.62 |
| Hourly | $16.87 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35,670 | 12,200 |
| Springfield, IL | $34,800 | 240 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $34,580 | 330 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $34,340 | 3,250 |
| Decatur, IL | $33,710 | 100 |
| Peoria, IL | $33,700 | 490 |
| Bloomington, IL | $33,540 | 230 |
| Kankakee, IL | $32,430 | 240 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,730 | 630 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,670 | 470 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $30,090 | 180 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,910 | $16.30 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 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 35-3041. 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 servers, nonrestaurant make in Illinois?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in Illinois is $35,080 a year, or $16.87 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $41,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Illinois?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in Illinois earn at least $41,960 a year. The top 25% earn $37,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $31,290 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Illinois?
About 17,560 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.