Cooks, Restaurant Salary in Illinois
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for cooks, restaurant in Illinois was $37,580 +0.5% vs national
Illinois vs United States
| Illinois | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $37,580 | $37,390 |
| Median hourly | $18.07 | $17.98 |
| Employment | 53,540 | 1,409,890 |
| Location quotient | 0.97 | 1.00 |
Data source: BLS OES state file (Illinois) · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
What the data says
At $18.07 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $37,586 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $37,580.
Employment density in Illinois is 0.97x the national average — a roughly average concentration of these roles in the local economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cooks, restaurant salary in Illinois?
The median annual wage in Illinois is $37,580 ($18.07 per hour), per BLS OES May 2025 data.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for cooks, restaurant?
The Illinois median of $37,580 is 0.5% higher than the U.S. median of $37,390.
How many cooks, restaurant work in Illinois?
Approximately 53,540 are employed in Illinois, per BLS OES.