How much does a cook make in Chicago?
$38,930a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $18.72 an hour or $3,244 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.72
- Vs. national median
- +4%
- Rank among cities
- 64 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 41,690
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $32,150Median: $38,930Highest 10%: $46,620
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32,150 | $15.46 | |
| 25th | $36,300 | $17.45 | |
| Median | $38,930 | $18.72 | |
| 75th | $45,510 | $21.88 | |
| 90th | $46,620 | $22.41 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| St. Louis, MO | $37,690 |
| Springfield, IL | $36,550 |
| Decatur, IL | $36,440 |
| Rockford, IL | $36,200 |
| Champaign, IL | $36,040 |
| Peoria, IL | $36,040 |
| Kankakee, IL | $35,560 |
| Davenport, IA | $35,480 |
| Bloomington, IL | $35,310 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $34,870 |
| Paducah, KY | $31,200 |
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 | $38,290 |
| 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 cook make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $18.72 ($38,930 a year).
Do cooks make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $38,930 against $37,390 nationally, 4% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $37,580, so Chicago pays 4% more.
Where does Chicago rank for cook pay?
64 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $32,150 or less a year; the top 10% make $46,620 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.