Food Preparation Worker Salary in Chicago, IL
Food Preparation Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $35,410 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,024 take-home, or $2,419 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,069
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,195
- Medicare (1.45%)$513
- Illinois income tax$1,608
- Take-home pay$29,024
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 →
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| Median (50th) | $35,410 | $17.02 | $29,024 | $2,419 |
| 75th percentile | $38,870 | $18.69 | $31,633 | $2,636 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,330 | $21.79 | $36,504 | $3,042 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,410 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 food preparation worker's $29,024 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,017 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Food Preparation Worker jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #46 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 3 | Omaha, NE | $36,140 | $30,454 | $33,134 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $36,930 | $31,620 | $33,121 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,360 | $30,402 | $32,369 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | $36,730 | $31,693 | $31,857 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $34,390 | $29,812 | $31,476 |
| 8 | North Port, FL | $37,320 | $32,167 | $31,408 |
| 46 | Chicago, IL | $35,410 | $29,024 | $28,017 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
About the job: food preparation workers
Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Chicago, IL?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $35,410 a year, or about $17.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $38,870.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $35,410 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $29,024 a year ($2,419 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,608 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,017 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #46 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker 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) — 63% of a median food preparation worker’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, Restaurant — $38,930
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,290
- Dishwasher — $36,850
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $35,670
- 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