Restaurant Cook Salary in Chicago, IL
Updated
The median restaurant cook in the Chicago area earns $38,930 a year ($18.72 an hour), 4% above the U.S. median ($37,390) and 4% above the Illinois median ($37,580). Half of the 41,690 restaurant cooks there earn between $36,300 and $45,510.
Median $38,930
10th: $32,15090th: $46,620
| Annual pay | Chicago area | Illinois | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,150 | $31,200 | $28,700 |
| 25th percentile | $36,300 | $35,360 | $34,010 |
| Median | $38,930 | $37,580 | $37,390 |
| 75th percentile | $45,510 | $45,010 | $44,620 |
| 90th percentile | $46,620 | $46,460 | $47,900 |
| Average | $40,450 | $39,520 | $38,730 |
| Jobs | 41,690 | 53,540 | 1,409,890 |
Chicago, IL ranks 16th of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas for restaurant cook pay. Highest: Seattle, WA ($47,730).
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Check my payRestaurant cook pay in other cities
- Seattle, WA: $47,730
- San Jose, CA: $47,170
- San Diego, CA: $46,440
- San Francisco, CA: $46,030
- Boston, MA: $45,830
- Portland, OR: $45,200
- Los Angeles, CA: $44,460
- Denver, CO: $44,370
- All cities
Similar jobs in Chicago, IL
- Food Preparation Worker: $35,410
- Fast Food Worker: $34,630
- Waiter: $31,200
- Food Service Supervisor: $42,650
- Bartender: $31,200
- All jobs in Chicago, IL
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, published May 15, 2026
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, www.bls.gov/oes. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.