Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Rockford, IL

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

Median annual salary $34,340 -6.8% vs national
Median hourly $16.51
10th percentile $29,270
90th percentile $44,500
Employed locally 1,260
National median $36,830

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Cooks, Restaurant
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Rockford, IL
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $29,270
    25th
    $30,010
    50th (median)
    $34,340
    75th
    $37,710
    90th
    $44,500

    Rockford economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $66,571 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Restaurant salary vs area income 52% Median Cooks, Restaurant salary is 48% 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 Rockford, IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $30,340
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,120
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $37,880
    Bartenders $29,120
    Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria $32,070
    Food Preparation Workers $31,280

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Rockford, IL is $16.51, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $21.31 or more per hour.

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

    The median Cooks, Restaurant salary in Rockford, IL is 6.8% 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 Rockford?

    Entry-level Cooks, Restaurant (10th percentile) earn around $29,270 per year in Rockford, IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $30,010.