Chef and Head Cook Salary in Chicago, IL
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $60,770 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,145 take-home, or $4,012 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chef and head cook salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,112
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,768
- Medicare (1.45%)$881
- Illinois income tax$2,863
- Take-home pay$48,145
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Chef and Head Cook pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,330 | $19.39 | $32,734 | $2,728 |
| 25th percentile | $51,990 | $25.00 | $41,525 | $3,460 |
| Median (50th) | $60,770 | $29.22 | $48,145 | $4,012 |
| 75th percentile | $73,620 | $35.39 | $57,122 | $4,760 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,990 | $43.26 | $67,828 | $5,652 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,770 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chef and head cook's $48,145 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,475 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chef and Head Cook jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for chefs and head cooks, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #15 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $80,330 | $65,342 | $58,796 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $74,660 | $58,101 | $58,068 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $74,900 | $58,100 | $53,360 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $62,380 | $52,302 | $52,190 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $72,470 | $56,409 | $52,102 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $64,100 | $53,684 | $52,075 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $65,680 | $52,938 | $51,619 |
| 8 | Orlando, FL | $61,390 | $51,507 | $50,787 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $60,770 | $48,145 | $46,475 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
About the job: chefs and head cooks
Direct and may participate in the preparation, seasoning, and cooking of salads, soups, fish, meats, vegetables, desserts, or other foods. May plan and price menu items, order supplies, and keep records and accounts.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.6% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chef and head cook make in Chicago, IL?
The median chef and head cook salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $60,770 a year, or about $29.22 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,990 and $73,620.
What is a chef and head cook’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $60,770 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $48,145 a year ($4,012 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,863 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a chef and head cook?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $62,470. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,475 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #15 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chef and head cook afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median chef and head cook’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,650
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,930
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,290
- Dishwasher — $36,850
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,670
- Food Preparation Worker — $35,410
- Cooks, Fast Food — $35,360
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $34,630
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $31,720
- Waiter and Waitress — $31,200
- Bartender — $31,200
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $31,200