Cooks Restaurant Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$31,200
- 25th Percentile — Junior$35,360
- 50th Percentile — Median$37,580
- 75th Percentile — Senior$45,010
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$46,460
Half of Cooks Restaurant in Illinois earn more than $37,580. The top 10% make $46,460 or more, while entry-level workers start around $31,200.
Cooks Restaurant in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 20th of 51 states for Cooks Restaurant pay, at $39,520 per year (2.0% above the U.S. average of $38,730).
- 53,540 people work as Cooks Restaurant in Illinois — 3.8% of all U.S. Cooks Restaurant jobs.
- Location quotient 0.97: Cooks Restaurant jobs are less concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $31,200; the top 10% earn over $46,460.
- Hourly equivalent: $19.0 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Washington at $47,200.
- Among hospitality jobs in Illinois, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($62,810).
Cooks Restaurant Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Cooks Restaurant here earn $39,520 on average, placing the state 20th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $39,520 is roughly equivalent to $37,638 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Rhode Island ($40,290), Minnesota ($40,210), Maryland ($40,120) are the closest alternatives for Cooks Restaurant weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Hospitality Jobs in Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- Chefs and Head Cooks $62,810/yr Illinois +58.9% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $45,710/yr Illinois +15.7% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $39,210/yr Illinois 0.8% vs this role
- Waiters and Waitresses $35,610/yr Illinois 9.9% vs this role
- Bartenders $35,550/yr Illinois 10.0% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $35,340/yr Illinois 10.6% vs this role
- Fast Food and Counter Workers $34,280/yr Illinois 13.3% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $33,800/yr Illinois 14.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Cooks Restaurant salary in Illinois?
The average Cooks Restaurant salary in Illinois is $39,520 per year (median $37,580), which is 2.0% above the national average of $38,730.
How does Illinois rank for Cooks Restaurant pay?
Illinois ranks 20th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Washington ($47,200/yr).
How much do entry-level Cooks Restaurant make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Cooks Restaurant in Illinois earn about $31,200 per year and the 25th percentile is $35,360.
How much do Cooks Restaurant make per hour in Illinois?
About $19.0 per hour, based on the $39,520 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Cooks Restaurant work in Illinois?
BLS counts 53,540 Cooks Restaurant jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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