How much does a food preparation worker make in Illinois?
$34,850a year
Median yearly pay for food preparation workers in Illinois. That is $16.75 an hour or $2,904 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.75
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among states
- 25 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 34,820
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $31,200Median: $34,850Highest 10%: $44,990
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,200 | $15.00 | |
| 25th | $31,200 | $15.00 | |
| Median | $34,850 | $16.75 | |
| 75th | $37,880 | $18.21 | |
| 90th | $44,990 | $21.63 |
Cities in Illinois
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Chicago, IL | $35,410 |
| 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 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for food preparation workers.
| 22. Georgia | $35,250 |
| 23. Nebraska | $35,210 |
| 24. Virginia | $34,900 |
| 25. Illinois | $34,850 |
| 26. Minnesota | $34,850 |
| 27. Ohio | $34,530 |
| 28. Wisconsin | $34,070 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make an hour in Illinois?
The median hourly pay in Illinois is $16.75 ($34,850 a year).
Do food preparation workers make more in Illinois than the national average?
No: $34,850 against $35,320 nationally, 1% less.
Where does Illinois rank for food preparation worker pay?
Illinois ranks 25 of 51 states.
Which city in Illinois pays food preparation workers the most?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, with a median of $35,410 a year.
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.