Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Chicago, IL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $38,930 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,678 take-home, or $2,640 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,492
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,414
- Medicare (1.45%)$564
- Illinois income tax$1,782
- Take-home pay$31,678
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 →
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,150 | $15.46 | $26,566 | $2,214 |
| 25th percentile | $36,300 | $17.45 | $29,695 | $2,475 |
| Median (50th) | $38,930 | $18.72 | $31,678 | $2,640 |
| 75th percentile | $45,510 | $21.88 | $36,639 | $3,053 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,620 | $22.41 | $37,476 | $3,123 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,930 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 cooks, restaurant's $31,678 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,579 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cooks, Restaurant jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #90 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $46,560 | $37,630 | $36,943 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $47,730 | $40,531 | $36,471 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $47,170 | $38,588 | $34,946 |
| 5 | Worcester, MA | $44,250 | $35,742 | $34,863 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $44,370 | $36,587 | $34,588 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $37,840 | $31,742 | $34,536 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $40,250 | $33,830 | $34,221 |
| 90 | Chicago, IL | $38,930 | $31,678 | $30,579 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
About the job: cooks, restaurant
Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.1% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Chicago, IL?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $38,930 a year, or about $18.72 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,300 and $45,510.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $38,930 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $31,678 a year ($2,640 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,782 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,579 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #90 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant 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) — 58% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,770
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,650
- 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