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.
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 #60 of 74 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albany, NY | $84,430 | $64,264 | $64,544 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $79,340 | $62,287 | $61,202 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $70,420 | $58,370 | $60,589 |
| 4 | Buffalo, NY | $74,290 | $57,678 | $60,179 |
| 5 | Atlantic City, NJ | $75,740 | $59,476 | $60,164 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $66,230 | $55,396 | $60,096 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $80,330 | $65,342 | $58,796 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $74,660 | $58,101 | $58,068 |
| 60 | 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 74 metros →
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 #60 of 74 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
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $39,930
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,930
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,290
- Cooks, Short Order — $37,440
- 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