Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Illinois
Chefs and Head Cooks in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $58,830 —5.8% below the national median of $62,470. That ranks IL #35 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.
Wage distribution
How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.
Employment concentration (1.06×) is close to the national average.
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $79,930 | $38.43 | 740 | 1.15 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $77,360 | $37.19 | 1,240 | 1.53 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $76,420 | $36.74 | 2,020 | 2.23 |
| 4 | Washington | $76,010 | $36.54 | 5,320 | 1.16 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $74,740 | $35.93 | 100 | 0.19 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $74,280 | $35.71 | 9,100 | 1.65 |
| 7 | Wyoming | $73,170 | $35.18 | 240 | 0.67 |
| 8 | South Carolina | $71,860 | $34.55 | 2,650 | 0.89 |
| 9 | New York | $70,670 | $33.98 | 17,430 | 1.40 |
| 10 | Tennessee | $69,810 | $33.56 | 3,820 | 0.91 |
Related occupations in Illinois
Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.
| Occupation | Illinois median | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,910 | $31,200 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $35,230 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $37,580 | $37,390 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $39,470 | $44,080 |
| Food Preparation Workers | $34,850 | $35,320 |
| Bartenders | $31,200 | $34,340 |
Frequently asked questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make in Illinois?
The median annual wage for chefs and head cooks in Illinois is $58,830, or $28.29 per hour. That is 5.8% below the national median of $62,470.
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Illinois?
Workers at the 10th percentile earn $40,330 per year ($19.39/hour). The 25th percentile is $50,000.
How many people work as chefs and head cooks in Illinois?
About 8,290 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 1.4 per 1,000 jobs statewide.
Is Illinois a good state for chefs and head cooks?
Illinois ranks #35 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (1.06x) is close to the national average.
Which state pays chefs and head cooks the most?
Rhode Island has the highest median wage at $79,930 per year, followed by Hawaii ($77,360) and District of Columbia ($76,420).