Cooks, Fast Food Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

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

Median annual salary $31,780 +5.4% vs national
Median hourly $15.28
10th percentile $29,470
90th percentile $39,330
Employed locally 11,460
National median $30,160

Compare Cooks, Fast Food salary & buying power

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Cooks, Fast Food
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Chicago, IL-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,470
    25th
    $30,270
    50th (median)
    $31,780
    75th
    $36,610
    90th
    $39,330

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Fast Food salary vs area income 36% Median Cooks, Fast Food salary is 64% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Fast Food

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $41,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $41,800
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Hawaii $40,300
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $39,260
    Napa, CA $39,210

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Fast Food salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $40,580
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $37,910
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $37,670
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $36,380
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $31,650
    Illinois $31,580

    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, Fast Food make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Chicago, IL-IN is $15.28, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $19.94 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Cooks, Fast Food salaries?

    The median Cooks, Fast Food salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 5.4% above the national median of $30,160. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Chicago?

    Entry-level Cooks, Fast Food (10th percentile) earn around $29,470 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,270.