Cooks, All Other Salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Cooks, All Others in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN make a median of $47,100 a year, or about $22.64 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $45,468 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month — about 55.4% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $47K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
About cooks, all others
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level cooks, all others (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K.Top earners bring in $48K or more - a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $67K | +85% | 240 |
| Washington | $54K | +50% | 110 |
| Nevada | $50K | +37% | 350 |
| Illinois | $47K | +30% | 170 |
| New Jersey | $44K | +23% | 590 |
| Alaska | $43K | +19% | 40 |
| Indiana | $42K | +17% | 80 |
| Kentucky | $42K | +17% | 90 |
| New York | $42K | +17% | 1,260 |
| Idaho | $42K | +16% | N/A |
| Montana | $41K | +14% | 220 |
| Oregon | $41K | +12% | 490 |
| Ohio | $40K | +11% | N/A |
| Vermont | $40K | +11% | 190 |
| Florida | $40K | +10% | 1,120 |
Track cooks, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
Related careers in Food Service
Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, all others make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $47,100 a year - that works out to about $22.64 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,880, and experienced cooks, all others can clear $47,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,129/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 56.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb - housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a cooks, all other salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, all other salary is worth about $45,468 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.