Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Champaign, IL

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

Median annual salary $34,490 -6.4% vs national
Median hourly $16.58
10th percentile $29,120
90th percentile $43,360
Employed locally 1,130
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,120
    25th
    $29,880
    50th (median)
    $34,490
    75th
    $37,050
    90th
    $43,360

    Champaign economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $64,558 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 53% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 47% 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 Champaign, IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$30,270
    Waiters and Waitresses$29,120
    Bartenders$29,550
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,670
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$37,650
    Food Preparation Workers$31,580

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Champaign, IL is $16.58, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.63 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Champaign, IL is 6.4% 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 Champaign?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $29,120 per year in Champaign, IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $29,880.