Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $38,290 a year ($18.41 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,010 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,540 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 3.1 cooks, institution and cafeteria per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $40,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,510 | $15.15 |
| 25th percentile | $36,170 | $17.39 |
| Median | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| 75th percentile | $46,000 | $22.11 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,540 | $23.82 |
| Average (mean) | $40,800 | $19.62 |
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 | $3,190.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,595.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,472.69 |
| Weekly | $736.35 |
| Hourly | $18.41 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $38,290 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $38,580 | 260 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $38,330 | 550 |
| Bloomington, IL | $37,950 | 520 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $37,370 | 2,700 |
| Bloomington, IN | $37,230 | 480 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $37,180 | 4,310 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $37,010 | 440 |
| Decatur, IL | $36,750 | 170 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,350 | 3,410 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $36,300 | 800 |
| Kokomo, IN | $36,290 | 120 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $36,200 | 5,410 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $36,170 | 320 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $36,100 | 120 |
| Peoria, IL | $35,980 | 790 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,740 | 840 |
| Springfield, IL | $35,600 | 460 |
| Columbus, IN | $35,490 | 110 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $35,310 | 440 |
| Kankakee, IL | $35,200 | 230 |
| Evansville, IN | $35,180 | 520 |
| Rockford, IL | $34,580 | 690 |
| Muncie, IN | $34,370 | 190 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $33,880 | 200 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $33,300 | 240 |
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,930 | $18.72 |
| Food Preparation Worker | $35,410 | $17.02 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Cooks, Short Order | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Cooks, All Other | $35,940 | $17.28 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,650 | $20.50 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,720 | $15.25 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| Dishwasher | $36,850 | $17.71 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,770 | $29.22 |
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 35-2012. 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $38,290 a year, or $18.41 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $49,540 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid cooks, institution and cafeteria make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of cooks, institution and cafeteria in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $49,540 a year. The top 25% earn $46,000 or more.
What is the starting pay for cooks, institution and cafeteria in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,510 a year, and a quarter of cooks, institution and cafeteria earn $36,170 or less.
How many cooks, institution and cafeteria work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 14,010 cooks, institution and cafeteria are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.