Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Bloomington, IL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Bloomington, IL

Median annual salary $34,800 -5.5% vs national
Median hourly $16.73
10th percentile $29,120
90th percentile $43,090
Employed locally 910
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Bloomington, IL
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,120
    25th
    $29,690
    50th (median)
    $34,800
    75th
    $37,420
    90th
    $43,090

    Bloomington economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $78,329 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 44% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 56% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Restaurant

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $46,970
    Portland-South Portland, ME $46,960
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $46,960
    Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area $46,500
    Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area $46,340

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Restaurant salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,320
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $44,000
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $43,600
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $42,460
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $39,260
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $37,540

    Related occupations in Bloomington, IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$29,610
    Waiters and Waitresses$29,120
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,760
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$38,700
    Bartenders$29,120
    Food Preparation Workers$31,300

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Restaurant make per hour in Bloomington?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Bloomington, IL is $16.73, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.24 or more per hour.

    Is Bloomington above or below average for Cooks, Restaurant salaries?

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Bloomington, IL is 5.5% below the national median of $36,830. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Restaurant in Bloomington?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $29,120 per year in Bloomington, IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,690.