Food Preparation Worker Salary in Springfield, IL
Food Preparation Workers in the Springfield, IL metro area earn a median $32,530 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $26,852 take-home, or $2,238 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food preparation worker salary in Springfield, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,724
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,017
- Medicare (1.45%)$472
- Illinois income tax$1,465
- Take-home pay$26,852
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
Food Preparation Worker pay by experience in Springfield, 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) | $32,530 | $15.64 | $26,852 | $2,238 |
| 75th percentile | $34,850 | $16.75 | $28,602 | $2,383 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,300 | $17.93 | $30,449 | $2,537 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $32,530 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 food preparation worker's $26,852 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,953 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 Springfield, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for food preparation workers, adjusted for cost of living
Springfield, IL ranks #149 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 |
| 149 | Springfield, IL | $32,530 | $26,852 | $28,953 |
*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
- Champaign, IL — $31,850
- Bloomington, IL — $32,030
- Chicago, IL — $35,410
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Springfield, IL?
The median food preparation worker salary in the Springfield, IL metro area is $32,530 a year, or about $15.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $34,850.
What is a food preparation worker’s take-home pay in Springfield, IL?
On the median $32,530 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $26,852 a year ($2,238 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,465 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Springfield, IL a good place to work as a food preparation worker?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $35,320. Local prices are 7.3% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,953 would in a typical U.S. city. Springfield, IL ranks #149 of 254 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food preparation worker 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) — 43% of a median food preparation worker’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, Restaurant — $36,550
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,600
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,350
- Waiter and Waitress — $31,200
- Bartender — $31,200