Cooks, Fast Food salary in Champaign-Urbana, IL
Cooks, Fast Food in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn a median of $32,840 a year ($15.79 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,270 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $30,890. Pay here is 6% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $34,960. There are 2.2 cooks, fast food per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $33,790, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, fast food in Champaign-Urbana, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $32,840 | $15.79 |
| 75th percentile | $34,760 | $16.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,270 | $18.40 |
| Average (mean) | $33,790 | $16.24 |
Half of cooks, fast food 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 | $2,736.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,368.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,263.08 |
| Weekly | $631.54 |
| Hourly | $15.79 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $32,840 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Cooks, Fast Food salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $35,360 | 10,460 |
| Rockford, IL | $33,380 | 310 |
| Peoria, IL | $32,340 | 340 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,900 | 80 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,430 | 170 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $30,860 | 17,700 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $30,460 | 790 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,820 | 1,070 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, fast food
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $48,120 |
| District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| California | $42,050 |
| Washington | $39,120 |
| New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| Vermont | $38,230 |
| Oregon | $37,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,870 |
| Colorado | $36,900 |
| Maine | $36,350 |
See Cooks, Fast Food pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Champaign-Urbana, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $36,040 | $17.33 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $31,850 | $15.31 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $31,300 | $15.05 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $38,370 | $18.45 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dishwasher | $33,330 | $16.03 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $34,580 | $16.63 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $48,040 | $23.10 |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other | $31,990 | $15.38 |
More: Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations · all salaries in Champaign-Urbana, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 35-2011. 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 cooks, fast food make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The median salary for cooks, fast food in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area is $32,840 a year, or $15.79 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,270 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, fast food make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The top 10% of cooks, fast food in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn at least $38,270 a year. The top 25% earn $34,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, fast food in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of cooks, fast food earn $31,200 or less.
How many cooks, fast food work in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
About 230 cooks, fast food are employed in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.