How much does a cook make in Chicago?
$37,440a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $18.00 an hour or $3,120 a month.
- Hourly
- $18.00
- Vs. national median
- +4%
- Rank among cities
- 53 of 237
- Jobs in the area
- 1,780
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $34,770Median: $37,440Highest 10%: $46,950
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $34,770 | $16.72 | |
| 25th | $36,010 | $17.31 | |
| Median | $37,440 | $18.00 | |
| 75th | $41,850 | $20.12 | |
| 90th | $46,950 | $22.57 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| St. Louis, MO | $38,490 |
| Rockford, IL | $34,150 |
| Davenport, IA | $33,280 |
| Peoria, IL | $32,010 |
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 | $38,290 |
| 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 $18.00 ($37,440 a year).
Do cooks make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $37,440 against $35,880 nationally, 4% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $37,440, so Chicago pays 0% more.
Where does Chicago rank for cook pay?
53 of 237 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $34,770 or less a year; the top 10% make $46,950 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.