Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Illinois
Cooks, Fast Foods in Illinois make a median of $31,580 a year, or about $15.18 an hour. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $39K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $32K get you in Illinois?
About cooks, fast foods
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level cooks, fast foods (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $32K. Top earners bring in $39K or more, a $10K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Fast Food salary by metro in Illinois
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $32K | +1% | 11,460 |
| Decatur | $31K | -3% | 250 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $30K | -6% | 330 |
| Kankakee | $29K | -7% | 150 |
| Rockford | $29K | -7% | 430 |
| Peoria | $29K | -7% | 450 |
Compare to other states
Track cooks, fast food salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do cooks, fast foods make in Illinois?
The median is $31,580 a year, that works out to about $15 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,120, and experienced cooks, fast foods can clear $38,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $32K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,154/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 65.3% 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, fast food salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median cooks, fast food salary is worth about $33,649 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, fast foods 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.