Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

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

Median annual salary $37,090 +0.7% vs national
Median hourly $17.83
10th percentile $30,900
90th percentile $46,560
Employed locally 47,100
National median $36,830

Compare Cooks, Restaurant salary & buying power

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Chicago, IL-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $30,900
    25th
    $34,440
    50th (median)
    $37,090
    75th
    $44,520
    90th
    $46,560

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 42% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 58% 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 Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $33,020
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,120
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $40,880
    Bartenders $29,120
    Food Preparation Workers $35,020
    Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers $29,670

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Chicago, IL-IN is $17.83, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.42 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 0.7% above 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 Chicago?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $30,900 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,440.