Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Peoria, IL

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

Median annual salary $34,380 -6.7% vs national
Median hourly $16.53
10th percentile $29,340
90th percentile $43,320
Employed locally 1,710
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Peoria, IL
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,340
    25th
    $30,060
    50th (median)
    $34,380
    75th
    $36,460
    90th
    $43,320

    Peoria economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.90% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $70,872 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 49% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 51% 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 Peoria, IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers$29,970
    Waiters and Waitresses$29,120
    Bartenders$29,120
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$37,230
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$35,050
    Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$35,270

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Peoria, IL is $16.53, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $20.73 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Peoria, IL is 6.7% 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 Peoria?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $29,340 per year in Peoria, IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,060.