Cooks, All Other Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $47,100 +30.1% vs national
Median hourly $22.64
10th percentile $36,880
90th percentile $47,740
National median $36,210

Compare Cooks, All Other salary & buying power

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Cooks, All Other
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Chicago, IL-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,880
    25th
    $47,090
    50th (median)
    $47,100
    75th
    $47,640
    90th
    $47,740

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, All Other salary vs area income 53% Median Cooks, All Other salary is 47% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Massachusetts $67,140
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $56,870
    Washington $54,460
    South Florida nonmetropolitan area $53,950
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $53,580
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $51,690

    Nearby metros — Cooks, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $53,580
    Illinois $47,100
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $43,610
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $43,260
    Jacksonville, FL $39,030
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $38,550

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $33,020
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,120
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,090
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $40,880
    Bartenders $29,120
    Food Preparation Workers $35,020

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, All Other make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, All Other in Chicago, IL-IN is $22.64, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $23.24 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Cooks, All Other salaries?

    The median Cooks, All Other salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 30.1% above the national median of $36,210. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, All Other in Chicago?

    Entry-level Cooks, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $36,880 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $47,090.