Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Champaign-Urbana, IL
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn a median of $38,330 a year ($18.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 550 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,700 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $37,450. Pay here is 2% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $37,440. There are 5.2 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $40,400, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Champaign-Urbana, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,320 | $15.06 |
| 25th percentile | $35,260 | $16.95 |
| Median | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| 75th percentile | $45,760 | $22.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,700 | $24.37 |
| Average (mean) | $40,400 | $19.42 |
Half of cooks, institution and cafeteria 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 | $3,194.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,597.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,474.23 |
| Weekly | $737.12 |
| Hourly | $18.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,330 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, Institution and Cafeteria salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $38,290 | 14,010 |
| Bloomington, IL | $37,950 | 520 |
| Decatur, IL | $36,750 | 170 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $36,200 | 5,410 |
| Peoria, IL | $35,980 | 790 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,740 | 840 |
| Springfield, IL | $35,600 | 460 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $35,310 | 440 |
| Kankakee, IL | $35,200 | 230 |
| Rockford, IL | $34,580 | 690 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $33,880 | 200 |
Highest-paying states for cooks, institution and cafeteria
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,670 |
| Alaska | $48,580 |
| Massachusetts | $47,790 |
| Hawaii | $47,770 |
| Rhode Island | $46,570 |
| California | $46,390 |
| Vermont | $46,370 |
| Connecticut | $46,120 |
| New York | $45,880 |
| District of Columbia | $45,450 |
See Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 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, Fast Food | $32,840 | $15.79 |
| 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 35-2012. 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, institution and cafeteria make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area is $38,330 a year, or $18.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,320 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn at least $50,700 a year. The top 25% earn $45,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,320 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $35,260 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
About 550 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.