Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Cooks, Restaurants in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN make a median of $37,090 a year, or about $17.83 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $35,805 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month — about 70.4% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $37K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
About cooks, restaurants
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level cooks, restaurants (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $37K.Top earners bring in $47K or more - a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Cooks, Restaurant pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $46K | +26% | 31,640 |
| District of Columbia | $45K | +23% | 8,020 |
| Washington | $45K | +22% | 34,790 |
| Maine | $45K | +22% | 4,920 |
| Hawaii | $45K | +21% | 12,190 |
| Vermont | $45K | +21% | 2,710 |
| California | $44K | +20% | 160,270 |
| New York | $40K | +8% | 62,430 |
| New Hampshire | $39K | +6% | 6,980 |
| Rhode Island | $39K | +6% | 6,490 |
| Alaska | $39K | +5% | 2,480 |
| Minnesota | $38K | +4% | 26,900 |
| New Jersey | $38K | +3% | 30,720 |
| Oregon | $38K | +3% | 18,970 |
| Connecticut | $38K | +3% | 13,940 |
Track cooks, restaurant 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, restaurants make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $37,090 a year - that works out to about $17.83 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,900, and experienced cooks, restaurants can clear $46,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $37K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,500/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 71.2% 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, restaurant 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, restaurant salary is worth about $35,805 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do cooks, restaurants 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.