How much does a cook make in Chicago?
$38,290a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $18.41 an hour or $3,191 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.41
- Vs. national median
- +2%
- Rank among cities
- 130 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 14,010
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $31,510Median: $38,290Highest 10%: $49,540
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,510 | $15.15 | |
| 25th | $36,170 | $17.39 | |
| Median | $38,290 | $18.41 | |
| 75th | $46,000 | $22.12 | |
| 90th | $49,540 | $23.82 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Champaign, IL | $38,330 |
| Bloomington, IL | $37,950 |
| Decatur, IL | $36,750 |
| St. Louis, MO | $36,200 |
| Peoria, IL | $35,980 |
| Davenport, IA | $35,740 |
| Springfield, IL | $35,600 |
| Paducah, KY | $35,310 |
| Kankakee, IL | $35,200 |
| Rockford, IL | $34,580 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $33,880 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Chef and Head Cook | $60,770 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Worker | $42,650 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Worker | $39,930 |
| Cook | $38,930 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $18.41 ($38,290 a year).
Do cooks make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $38,290 against $37,450 nationally, 2% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $37,440, so Chicago pays 2% more.
Where does Chicago rank for cook pay?
130 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $31,510 or less a year; the top 10% make $49,540 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.