SOC 35-2014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Cooks, Restaurant — Northwest Illinois
Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area · 8 metro areas compared
The median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Northwest Illinois, IL is $35,350 per year, close to the national median of $37,390 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Northwest Illinois, IL is $35,350 per year, close to the national median of $37,390 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $31,200 and $36,610. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $31,200 and the ninetieth at $42,390.
The area has 1,150 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 9.1 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Chicago records the highest median at $38,930. Of the 326 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 291st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,200 | −16.6% |
| 25th | $31,200 | −16.6% |
| Median (50th) | $35,350 | −5.5% |
| 75th | $36,610 | −2.1% |
| 90th | $42,390 | +13.4% |
| Mean | $35,450 | −5.2% |
Other metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $38,930 | 41,690 | |
| 2 | Springfield | $36,550 | 850 | |
| 3 | Decatur | $36,440 | 320 | |
| 4 | Rockford | $36,200 | 1,130 | |
| 5 | Champaign | $36,040 | 970 | |
| 6 | Peoria | $36,040 | 1,420 | |
| 7 | Kankakee | $35,560 | 320 | |
| 8 | Bloomington | $35,310 | 850 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Northwest Illinois sit close to the national average, so $35,350 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$35,350as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$35,350US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $35,350 a year, 5.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,200 to $42,390 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,150 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $38,930.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Cooks, Restaurant in Northwest Illinois, IL?
The median annual wage is $35,350, or $16.99 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 $37,390, so pay in Northwest Illinois, IL is 5.5% 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 Northwest Illinois, IL earns more than $42,390 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 $38,930 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,150 jobs in this occupation in Northwest Illinois, 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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