Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Illinois
Food Servers, Nonrestaurants in Illinois make a median of $34,380 a year, or about $16.53 an hour. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $42K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $34K get you in Illinois?
About food servers, nonrestaurants
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level food servers, nonrestaurants (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $34K. Top earners bring in $42K or more, a $12K spread from bottom to top.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary by metro in Illinois
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria | $35K | +3% | 610 |
| Springfield | $35K | +2% | 270 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $35K | +1% | 10,440 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $33K | -4% | 250 |
| Bloomington | $33K | -5% | 190 |
| Kankakee | $31K | -8% | 180 |
| Decatur | $31K | -9% | 80 |
| Rockford | $31K | -11% | 440 |
Compare to other states
Track food servers, nonrestaurant 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 food servers, nonrestaurants make in Illinois?
The median is $34,380 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,400, and experienced food servers, nonrestaurants can clear $41,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $34K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,330/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 60.4% 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 food servers, nonrestaurant 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 food servers, nonrestaurant salary is worth about $36,633 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do food servers, nonrestaurants 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.