How much does a food server make in Illinois?
$35,080a year
Median yearly pay for food servers in Illinois. That is $16.87 an hour or $2,923 a month.
- Hourly
- $16.87
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among states
- 22 of 51
- Jobs in the state
- 17,560
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $31,200Median: $35,080Highest 10%: $41,960
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,200 | $15.00 | |
| 25th | $31,290 | $15.04 | |
| Median | $35,080 | $16.87 | |
| 75th | $37,360 | $17.96 | |
| 90th | $41,960 | $20.17 |
Cities in Illinois
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Chicago, IL | $35,670 |
| Springfield, IL | $34,800 |
| Champaign, IL | $34,580 |
| St. Louis, MO | $34,340 |
| Decatur, IL | $33,710 |
| Peoria, IL | $33,700 |
| Bloomington, IL | $33,540 |
| Kankakee, IL | $32,430 |
| Davenport, IA | $31,730 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,670 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $30,090 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for food servers.
| 19. New Mexico | $35,740 |
| 20. Arizona | $35,390 |
| 21. Virginia | $35,090 |
| 22. Illinois | $35,080 |
| 23. Rhode Island | $34,860 |
| 24. Wisconsin | $34,670 |
| 25. Michigan | $34,260 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food server make an hour in Illinois?
The median hourly pay in Illinois is $16.87 ($35,080 a year).
Do food servers make more in Illinois than the national average?
No: $35,080 against $35,360 nationally, 1% less.
Where does Illinois rank for food server pay?
Illinois ranks 22 of 51 states.
Which city in Illinois pays food servers the most?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, with a median of $35,670 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.