How much does a cook make in Chicago?
$35,360a year
Median yearly pay for cooks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $17.00 an hour or $2,947 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.00
- Vs. national median
- +14%
- Rank among cities
- 62 of 308
- Jobs in the area
- 10,460
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $31,200Median: $35,360Highest 10%: $41,480
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,200 | $15.00 | |
| 25th | $33,040 | $15.88 | |
| Median | $35,360 | $17.00 | |
| 75th | $37,710 | $18.13 | |
| 90th | $41,480 | $19.94 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for cooks.
| Rockford, IL | $33,380 |
| Champaign, IL | $32,840 |
| Peoria, IL | $32,340 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,900 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,430 |
| St. Louis, MO | $30,860 |
| Davenport, IA | $30,460 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $28,820 |
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 |
| Cook | $37,440 |
| Dishwasher | $36,850 |
| Cook | $35,940 |
| Food Server | $35,670 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,410 |
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 $17.00 ($35,360 a year).
Do cooks make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $35,360 against $30,890 nationally, 14% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $34,960, so Chicago pays 1% more.
Where does Chicago rank for cook pay?
62 of 308 metro areas with data.
How much does a cook make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $31,200 or less a year; the top 10% make $41,480 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.