How much does a chef and head cook make in Chicago?
$60,770a year
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $29.22 an hour or $5,064 a month.
- Hourly
- $29.22
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 137 of 340
- Jobs in the area
- 6,840
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $40,330Median: $60,770Highest 10%: $89,990
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,330 | $19.39 | |
| 25th | $51,990 | $25.00 | |
| Median | $60,770 | $29.22 | |
| 75th | $73,620 | $35.39 | |
| 90th | $89,990 | $43.26 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for chef and head cooks.
| St. Louis, MO | $64,480 |
| Bloomington, IL | $55,700 |
| Davenport, IA | $48,850 |
| Springfield, IL | $48,100 |
| Champaign, IL | $48,040 |
| Peoria, IL | $47,800 |
| Rockford, IL | $47,740 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $42,650 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $39,930 |
| Cook | $38,930 |
| Cook | $38,290 |
| Cook | $37,440 |
| Dishwasher | $36,850 |
| Cook | $35,940 |
| Food Server | $35,670 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,410 |
| Cook | $35,360 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $29.22 ($60,770 a year).
Do chef and head cooks make more in Chicago than the national average?
No: $60,770 against $62,470 nationally, 3% less.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $58,830, so Chicago pays 3% more.
Where does Chicago rank for chef and head cook pay?
137 of 340 metro areas with data.
How much does a chef and head cook make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $40,330 or less a year; the top 10% make $89,990 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.