Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Rockford, IL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Rockford, IL metro area earn a median $36,200 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,620 take-home, or $2,468 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Rockford, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,164
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,244
- Medicare (1.45%)$525
- Illinois income tax$1,647
- Take-home pay$29,620
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Rockford, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $31,730 | $15.25 | $26,249 | $2,187 |
| Median (50th) | $36,200 | $17.40 | $29,620 | $2,468 |
| 75th percentile | $37,860 | $18.20 | $30,871 | $2,573 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,320 | $21.31 | $35,742 | $2,979 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,200 buys in Rockford, IL
Prices in Rockford, IL are 7.8% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 30% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $29,620 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,141 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 Rockford, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Rockford, IL ranks #147 of 327 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $44,390 | $37,847 | $39,612 |
| 2 | Mount Vernon, WA | $46,450 | $39,503 | $38,561 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $45,280 | $38,562 | $38,532 |
| 4 | Barnstable Town, MA | $46,930 | $37,762 | $38,395 |
| 5 | Spokane, WA | $44,230 | $37,719 | $37,589 |
| 6 | Bremerton, WA | $46,460 | $39,511 | $37,413 |
| 7 | Bellingham, WA | $45,370 | $38,635 | $37,388 |
| 8 | Pittsfield, MA | $43,970 | $35,531 | $37,360 |
| 147 | Rockford, IL | $36,200 | $29,620 | $32,141 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 327 metros →
Cooks, Restaurant salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Peoria, IL — $36,040
- Springfield, IL — $36,550
- Champaign, IL — $36,040
- Bloomington, IL — $35,310
- Chicago, IL — $38,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Rockford, IL?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Rockford, IL metro area is $36,200 a year, or about $17.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,730 and $37,860.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Rockford, IL?
On the median $36,200 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $29,620 a year ($2,468 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,647 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Rockford, IL a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 7.8% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,141 would in a typical U.S. city. Rockford, IL ranks #147 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Rockford, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Rockford, IL is $895 a month ($1,175 for two bedrooms) — 36% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Rockford, IL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,750
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $34,580
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,530
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $31,670
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,640
- Waiter and Waitress — $31,200
- Bartender — $31,200