Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria Salary in Chicago, IL
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $38,290 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,195 take-home, or $2,600 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,415
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,374
- Medicare (1.45%)$555
- Illinois income tax$1,751
- Take-home pay$31,195
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, Institution and Cafeteria pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,510 | $15.15 | $26,083 | $2,174 |
| 25th percentile | $36,170 | $17.39 | $29,597 | $2,466 |
| Median (50th) | $38,290 | $18.41 | $31,195 | $2,600 |
| 75th percentile | $46,000 | $22.12 | $37,009 | $3,084 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,540 | $23.82 | $39,678 | $3,306 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,290 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, institution and cafeteria's $31,195 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,113 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, Institution and Cafeteria jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #32 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $51,530 | $43,584 | $39,218 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $51,880 | $42,029 | $38,062 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $48,530 | $38,967 | $35,992 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,070 | $37,119 | $35,090 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $44,830 | $36,621 | $34,936 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $49,140 | $40,027 | $34,622 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $47,100 | $38,537 | $34,443 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $44,470 | $36,565 | $34,352 |
| 32 | Chicago, IL | $38,290 | $31,195 | $30,113 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: cooks, institution and cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food for institutions, such as schools, hospitals, or cafeterias.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Chicago, IL?
The median cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $38,290 a year, or about $18.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,170 and $46,000.
What is a cooks, institution and cafeteria’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $38,290 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $31,195 a year ($2,600 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,751 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a cooks, institution and cafeteria?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $37,450. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,113 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #32 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, institution and cafeteria 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) — 59% of a median cooks, institution and cafeteria’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
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- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,650
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,930
- 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