Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Chefs and Head Cooks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $60,770 a year ($29.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,990 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 3% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $58,830. There are 1.5 chefs and head cooks per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $64,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chefs and head cooks in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,330 | $19.39 |
| 25th percentile | $51,990 | $25.00 |
| Median | $60,770 | $29.22 |
| 75th percentile | $73,620 | $35.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,990 | $43.26 |
| Average (mean) | $64,510 | $31.02 |
Half of chefs and head cooks earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,064.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,532.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,337.31 |
| Weekly | $1,168.65 |
| Hourly | $29.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $60,770 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Terre Haute, IN | $85,920 | 50 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $64,480 | 1,030 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $57,180 | 80 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $56,620 | 1,060 |
| Bloomington, IL | $55,700 | 100 |
| Bloomington, IN | $52,760 | 100 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $49,490 | 120 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $49,010 | 960 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $48,850 | 180 |
| Springfield, IL | $48,100 | 100 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $48,040 | 130 |
| Peoria, IL | $47,800 | 190 |
| Rockford, IL | $47,740 | 130 |
| Kankakee, IL | $47,160 | 40 |
| Evansville, IN | $46,480 | 90 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $46,310 | 750 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $44,720 | 40 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $40,300 | 60 |
| Muncie, IN | $37,920 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chefs and head cooks
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $79,930 |
| Hawaii | $77,360 |
| District of Columbia | $76,420 |
| Washington | $76,010 |
| North Dakota | $74,740 |
| New Jersey | $74,280 |
| Wyoming | $73,170 |
| South Carolina | $71,860 |
| New York | $70,670 |
| Tennessee | $69,810 |
See Chefs and Head Cooks pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,650 | $20.50 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,930 | $18.72 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,410 | $17.02 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,720 | $15.25 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| Dishwasher | $36,850 | $17.71 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $39,930 | $19.20 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,440 | $18.00 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-1011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chefs and head cooks make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for chefs and head cooks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $60,770 a year, or $29.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,330 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chefs and head cooks make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of chefs and head cooks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $89,990 a year. The top 25% earn $73,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for chefs and head cooks in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,330 a year, and a quarter of chefs and head cooks earn $51,990 or less.
How many chefs and head cooks work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 6,840 chefs and head cooks are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.