Food Servers, Nonrestaurant Salary in Chicago, IL
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $35,670 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,220 take-home, or $2,435 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,100
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,212
- Medicare (1.45%)$517
- Illinois income tax$1,621
- Take-home pay$29,220
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 →
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $33,350 | $16.03 | $27,471 | $2,289 |
| Median (50th) | $35,670 | $17.15 | $29,220 | $2,435 |
| 75th percentile | $38,040 | $18.29 | $31,007 | $2,584 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,010 | $21.16 | $35,508 | $2,959 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,670 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 food servers, nonrestaurant's $29,220 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,206 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.4× the national concentration of food servers, nonrestaurant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #16 of 25 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $44,710 | $36,746 | $31,783 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $40,640 | $34,834 | $31,345 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $39,850 | $33,154 | $31,342 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $34,340 | $29,096 | $30,599 |
| 5 | Tampa, FL | $34,480 | $29,885 | $29,621 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $32,250 | $27,988 | $29,317 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,690 | $30,173 | $29,205 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $32,070 | $27,849 | $29,201 |
| 16 | Chicago, IL | $35,670 | $29,220 | $28,206 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 25 metros →
About the job: food servers, nonrestaurant
Serve food to individuals outside of a restaurant environment, such as in hotel rooms, hospital rooms, residential care facilities, or cars.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.5% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food servers, nonrestaurant make in Chicago, IL?
The median food servers, nonrestaurant salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $35,670 a year, or about $17.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $33,350 and $38,040.
What is a food servers, nonrestaurant’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $35,670 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $29,220 a year ($2,435 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,621 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a food servers, nonrestaurant?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $35,360. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,206 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #16 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food servers, nonrestaurant 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) — 63% of a median food servers, nonrestaurant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Chef and Head Cook — $60,770
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $42,650
- Cooks, Restaurant — $38,930
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $38,290
- Dishwasher — $36,850
- 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