How much does a food preparation worker make in Chicago?
$35,410a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $17.02 an hour or $2,951 a month.
- Hourly
- $17.02
- Vs. national median
- +0%
- Rank among cities
- 109 of 393
- Jobs in the area
- 27,100
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $31,200Median: $35,410Highest 10%: $45,330
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,200 | $15.00 | |
| 25th | $31,200 | $15.00 | |
| Median | $35,410 | $17.02 | |
| 75th | $38,870 | $18.69 | |
| 90th | $45,330 | $21.79 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers.
| Decatur, IL | $33,450 |
| Rockford, IL | $32,530 |
| Springfield, IL | $32,530 |
| St. Louis, MO | $32,400 |
| Peoria, IL | $32,140 |
| Bloomington, IL | $32,030 |
| Champaign, IL | $31,850 |
| Davenport, IA | $31,200 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $28,860 |
| Paducah, KY | $27,210 |
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 |
| Cook | $35,360 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $17.02 ($35,410 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $35,410 against $35,320 nationally, 0% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $34,850, so Chicago pays 2% more.
Where does Chicago rank for food preparation worker pay?
109 of 393 metro areas with data.
How much does a food preparation worker make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $31,200 or less a year; the top 10% make $45,330 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.