Cooks, Short Order Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

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

Median annual salary $37,190 +4.4% vs national
Median hourly $17.88
10th percentile $31,880
90th percentile $48,260
Employed locally 1,020
National median $35,620

Compare Cooks, Short Order salary & buying power

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Cooks, Short Order
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Chicago, IL-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $31,880
    25th
    $35,280
    50th (median)
    $37,190
    75th
    $44,550
    90th
    $48,260

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Cooks, Short Order salary vs area income 42% Median Cooks, Short Order salary is 58% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Cooks, Short Order

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,970
    Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $48,700
    Barnstable Town, MA $46,830
    Arizona $46,240
    Washington $46,010
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $46,010

    Nearby metros — Cooks, Short Order salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $48,970
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $37,890
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $37,600
    St. Louis, MO-IL $37,350
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $36,900
    Illinois $36,700

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Fast Food and Counter Workers $33,020
    Waiters and Waitresses $29,120
    Cooks, Restaurant $37,090
    First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers $40,880
    Bartenders $29,120
    Food Preparation Workers $35,020

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Cooks, Short Order make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Cooks, Short Order in Chicago, IL-IN is $17.88, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $22.57 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Cooks, Short Order salaries?

    The median Cooks, Short Order salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 4.4% above the national median of $35,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Cooks, Short Order in Chicago?

    Entry-level Cooks, Short Order (10th percentile) earn around $31,880 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $35,280.