How much does a food preparation and serving related worker make in Chicago?
Median yearly pay for food preparation and serving related workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $19.20 an hour or $3,328 a month.
- Hourly
- $19.20
- Vs. national median
- +11%
- Rank among cities
- 11 of 171
- Jobs in the area
- 2,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,200 | $15.00 | |
| 25th | $35,980 | $17.30 | |
| Median | $39,930 | $19.20 | |
| 75th | $46,490 | $22.35 | |
| 90th | $56,030 | $26.94 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for food preparation and serving related workers.
| Peoria, IL | $35,500 |
| St. Louis, MO | $28,600 |
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 |
| 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 food preparation and serving related worker make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $19.20 ($39,930 a year).
Do food preparation and serving related workers make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $39,930 against $35,840 nationally, 11% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $38,880, so Chicago pays 3% more.
Where does Chicago rank for food preparation and serving related worker pay?
11 of 171 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation and serving related worker make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $31,200 or less a year; the top 10% make $56,030 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.