Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Springfield, IL
Cooks, Restaurant in the Springfield, IL metro area earn a median $36,550 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,883 take-home, or $2,490 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cooks, restaurant salary in Springfield, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,206
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,266
- Medicare (1.45%)$530
- Illinois income tax$1,664
- Take-home pay$29,883
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
Cooks, Restaurant pay by experience in Springfield, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,450 | $15.12 | $26,038 | $2,170 |
| 25th percentile | $33,860 | $16.28 | $27,855 | $2,321 |
| Median (50th) | $36,550 | $17.57 | $29,883 | $2,490 |
| 75th percentile | $38,870 | $18.69 | $31,633 | $2,636 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,340 | $21.32 | $35,757 | $2,980 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,550 buys in Springfield, IL
Prices in Springfield, IL are 7.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cooks, restaurant's $29,883 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,221 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 Springfield, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for cooks, restaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Springfield, IL ranks #140 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 |
| 140 | Springfield, IL | $36,550 | $29,883 | $32,221 |
*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
- Rockford, IL — $36,200
- Champaign, IL — $36,040
- Bloomington, IL — $35,310
- Chicago, IL — $38,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cooks, restaurant make in Springfield, IL?
The median cooks, restaurant salary in the Springfield, IL metro area is $36,550 a year, or about $17.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,860 and $38,870.
What is a cooks, restaurant’s take-home pay in Springfield, IL?
On the median $36,550 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $29,883 a year ($2,490 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,664 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Springfield, IL a good place to work as a cooks, restaurant?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $37,390. Local prices are 7.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,221 would in a typical U.S. city. Springfield, IL ranks #140 of 327 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cooks, restaurant afford rent in Springfield, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Springfield, IL is $970 a month ($1,203 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median cooks, restaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Springfield, IL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,450
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,600
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,530
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,350
- Waiter and Waitress — $31,200
- Bartender — $31,200