Fast Food and Counter Workers Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$31,200
- 25th Percentile — Junior$31,200
- 50th Percentile — Median$33,910
- 75th Percentile — Senior$35,990
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$37,330
Half of Fast Food and Counter Workers in Illinois earn more than $33,910. The top 10% make $37,330 or more, while entry-level workers start around $31,200.
Fast Food and Counter Workers in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 15th of 51 states for Fast Food and Counter Workers pay, at $34,280 per year (6.6% above the U.S. average of $32,150).
- 127,590 people work as Fast Food and Counter Workers in Illinois — 3.3% of all U.S. Fast Food and Counter Workers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.84: Fast Food and Counter Workers 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 $37,330.
- Hourly equivalent: $16.48 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $41,680.
- Among hospitality jobs in Illinois, Chefs and Head Cooks pays the most ($62,810).
Fast Food and Counter Workers Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Fast Food and Counter Workers here earn $34,280 on average, placing the state 15th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $34,280 is roughly equivalent to $32,648 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Hawaii ($35,810), New Jersey ($35,110), Arizona ($35,090) are the closest alternatives for Fast Food and Counter Workers 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 +83.2% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation $45,710/yr Illinois +33.3% vs this role
- Cooks Restaurant $39,520/yr Illinois +15.3% vs this role
- Cooks Institution and Cafeteria $39,210/yr Illinois +14.4% vs this role
- Waiters and Waitresses $35,610/yr Illinois +3.9% vs this role
- Bartenders $35,550/yr Illinois +3.7% vs this role
- Cooks Fast Food $35,340/yr Illinois +3.1% vs this role
- Dining Room Attendants and Bartender Helpers $33,800/yr Illinois 1.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Illinois?
The average Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Illinois is $34,280 per year (median $33,910), which is 6.6% above the national average of $32,150.
How does Illinois rank for Fast Food and Counter Workers pay?
Illinois ranks 15th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($41,680/yr).
How much do entry-level Fast Food and Counter Workers make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Fast Food and Counter Workers in Illinois earn about $31,200 per year and the 25th percentile is $31,200.
How much do Fast Food and Counter Workers make per hour in Illinois?
About $16.48 per hour, based on the $34,280 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Fast Food and Counter Workers work in Illinois?
BLS counts 127,590 Fast Food and Counter Workers jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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