Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,510 a year or less, while the top 10% make $49,540 or more. The middle half of cooks, institution and cafeteria in Chicago earn between $36,170 and $46,000.
- $32K10th
- $36K25th
- $38KMedian
- $46K75th
- $50K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,800 | $3,400 | $19.62 |
| Median | $38,290 | $3,191 | $18.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,170 | $3,014 | $17.39 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Cooks, institution and cafeteria in Chicago earn 4% more than the Illinois average ($39,210) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($38,810). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $37,450.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $40,800 | $38,290 | $31,510 | $49,540 | 14,010 |
| Illinois | $39,210 | $37,440 | $31,200 | $48,130 | 22,840 |
| United States | $38,810 | $37,450 | $28,480 | $49,670 | 441,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $40,800, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $33,084 a year, or $2,757 a month and $1,272 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $33,769 | $2,814 |
| Working in IL | $33,084 | $2,757 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for cooks, institution and cafeteria? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $40,800 buys what about $39,384 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 8.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$40,800
- Champaign$40,400
- Bloomington$39,170
- Decatur$37,970
- Kankakee$37,300
- Peoria$36,910
- Springfield$36,400
- Rockford$35,790
Highest-paying cities for cooks, institution and cafeteria
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,770).
- Kahului, HI$57,770
- San Jose, CA$54,290
- Seattle, WA$53,820
- Barnstable, MA$52,850
- San Francisco, CA$52,440
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Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Chicago: questions
How much do cooks, institution and cafeteria make an hour in Chicago?
$19.62 an hour on average, and $18.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cooks, institution and cafeteria salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,510 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,170, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cooks, institution and cafeteria take-home pay in Chicago?
About $33,084 a year ($2,757 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,800.
Do cooks, institution and cafeteria earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,810).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-2012; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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