Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Champaign, IL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Champaign-Urbana, IL

Median annual salary $51,960 -14.8% vs national
Median hourly $24.98
10th percentile $32,680
90th percentile $81,330
Employed locally 80
National median $60,990

Compare Chefs and Head Cooks salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Champaign, IL stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Chefs and Head Cooks
in
Champaign, IL
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $32,680
    25th
    $45,810
    50th (median)
    $51,960
    75th
    $70,450
    90th
    $81,330

    Champaign economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,558 2023 • Census ACS
    Chefs and Head Cooks salary vs area income 80% Median Chefs and Head Cooks salary is 20% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Chefs and Head Cooks

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Morgantown, WV $87,280
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $85,370
    Terre Haute, IN $83,880
    East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area $81,720
    Hawaii $81,200

    Nearby metros — Chefs and Head Cooks salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $87,410
    Huntsville, AL $70,960
    Mobile, AL $66,440
    Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC $65,780
    Wildwood-The Villages, FL $65,290
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $64,590

    Related occupations in Champaign, IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $30,270
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,120
    Cooks, Restaurant $34,490
    Bartenders $29,550
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,670
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $37,650

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Chefs and Head Cooks make per hour in Champaign?

    The median hourly wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Champaign, IL is $24.98, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $35.15 or more per hour.

    Is Champaign above or below average for Chefs and Head Cooks salaries?

    The median Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Champaign, IL is 14.8% below the national median of $60,990. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Chefs and Head Cooks in Champaign?

    Entry-level Chefs and Head Cooks (10th percentile) earn around $32,680 per year in Champaign, IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $45,810.