SOC 35-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Fast Food — Rockford
Rockford, IL · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Rockford, IL is $33,380 per year, 8.1% above the national median of $30,890.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Rockford, IL is $33,380 per year, 8.1% above the national median of $30,890. Half of workers earn between $31,260 and $35,370. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $31,200 and the ninetieth at $36,150.
The area has 310 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.55 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, Chicago records the highest median at $35,360. Of the 329 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 307th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,200 | +1.0% |
| 25th | $31,260 | +1.2% |
| Median (50th) | $33,380 | +8.1% |
| 75th | $35,370 | +14.5% |
| 90th | $36,150 | +17.0% |
| Mean | $33,690 | +9.1% |
Other metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $35,360 | 10,460 | |
| 2 | Champaign | $32,840 | 230 | |
| 3 | Peoria | $32,340 | 340 | |
| 4 | Kankakee | $31,900 | 80 | |
| 5 | Bloomington | $31,430 | 170 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Rockford sit close to the national average, so $33,380 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$33,380as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$33,380US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $33,380 a year, 8.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,200 to $36,150 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 310 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $35,360.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Fast Food in Rockford, IL?
The median annual wage is $33,380, or $16.05 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 $30,890, so pay in Rockford, IL is 8.1% higher. 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 Rockford, IL earns more than $36,150 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,200 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 $35,360 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 310 jobs in this occupation in Rockford, 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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