Food Preparation Worker Salary in Champaign, IL
Food Preparation Workers in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn a median $31,850 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,340 take-home, or $2,195 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Champaign, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,642
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,975
- Medicare (1.45%)$462
- Illinois income tax$1,432
- Take-home pay$26,340
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Champaign, 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) | $31,850 | $15.31 | $26,340 | $2,195 |
| 75th percentile | $35,000 | $16.83 | $28,715 | $2,393 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,780 | $20.09 | $33,827 | $2,819 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $31,850 buys in Champaign, IL
Prices in Champaign, IL are 7.3% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 28% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median food preparation worker's $26,340 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,413 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 Champaign, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Champaign, IL ranks #164 of 254 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yakima, WA | $41,750 | $35,726 | $37,392 |
| 2 | Wildwood, FL | $35,410 | $30,632 | $35,859 |
| 3 | Fargo, ND | $36,590 | $31,580 | $34,753 |
| 4 | Wichita Falls, TX | $35,700 | $30,865 | $34,481 |
| 5 | Kahului, HI | $46,680 | $37,642 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $45,580 | $37,398 | $33,868 |
| 7 | Springfield, MO | $35,340 | $29,852 | $33,699 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $43,830 | $37,397 | $33,651 |
| 164 | Champaign, IL | $31,850 | $26,340 | $28,413 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 254 metros →
Food Preparation Worker salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Rockford, IL — $32,530
- Peoria, IL — $32,140
- Springfield, IL — $32,530
- Bloomington, IL — $32,030
- Chicago, IL — $35,410
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Champaign, IL?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area is $31,850 a year, or about $15.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $35,000.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Champaign, IL?
On the median $31,850 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $26,340 a year ($2,195 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,432 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Champaign, IL a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 7.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,413 would in a typical U.S. city. Champaign, IL ranks #164 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker afford rent in Champaign, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Champaign, IL is $932 a month ($1,110 for two bedrooms) — 42% of a median food preparation worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Champaign, IL
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $38,370
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,330
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,040
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,300
- Waiter and Waitress — $31,200
- Bartender — $31,200