SOC 35-1011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Chefs and Head Cooks — Bloomington
Bloomington, IL · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Bloomington, IL is $55,700 per year, 10.8% below the national median of $62,470.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Bloomington, IL is $55,700 per year, 10.8% below the national median of $62,470. Pay ranges from under $43,430 at the tenth percentile to more than $73,460 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $45,970 to $66,130.
Employment stands at 100, or 1.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Chicago leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $60,770. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 148th of 268 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $43,430 | −30.5% |
| 25th | $45,970 | −26.4% |
| Median (50th) | $55,700 | −10.8% |
| 75th | $66,130 | +5.9% |
| 90th | $73,460 | +17.6% |
| Mean | $57,290 | −8.3% |
Other metro areas in Illinois
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Bloomington sit close to the national average, so $55,700 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$55,700as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$55,700US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $55,700 a year, 10.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $43,430 to $73,460 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 100 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $60,770.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Bloomington, IL?
The median annual wage is $55,700, or $26.78 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $62,470, so pay in Bloomington, IL is 10.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Bloomington, IL earns more than $73,460 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $43,430 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Chicago, at $60,770 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 100 jobs in this occupation in Bloomington, IL. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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