Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Fast Food and Counter Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $34,630 a year ($16.65 an hour), based on BLS data for 97,280 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,610 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $31,200. Pay here is 2% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $33,910. There are 22 fast food and counter workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $34,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for fast food and counter workers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Median | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| 75th percentile | $36,590 | $17.59 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,610 | $18.56 |
| Average (mean) | $34,690 | $16.68 |
Half of fast food and counter workers 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 | $2,885.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,442.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,331.92 |
| Weekly | $665.96 |
| Hourly | $16.65 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $34,630 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Fast Food and Counter Workers salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL | $31,640 | 3,630 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,350 | 1,760 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,300 | 2,890 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,260 | 19,170 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,220 | 1,220 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,200 | 2,430 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 4,810 |
| Decatur, IL | $31,200 | 970 |
| Peoria, IL | $31,200 | 3,260 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $29,810 | 520 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $29,720 | 30,950 |
| Kokomo, IN | $29,130 | 1,540 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $29,040 | 28,400 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $28,690 | 15,540 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $28,360 | 6,900 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $28,300 | 2,710 |
| Columbus, IN | $28,290 | 1,440 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,250 | 1,520 |
| Bloomington, IN | $28,230 | 2,390 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $28,230 | 4,260 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $28,140 | 4,240 |
| Evansville, IN | $27,930 | 4,470 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $27,640 | 1,160 |
| Muncie, IN | $27,560 | 2,120 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $27,020 | 2,700 |
Highest-paying states for fast food and counter workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $42,280 |
| Washington | $37,710 |
| District of Columbia | $37,430 |
| Colorado | $36,270 |
| Vermont | $36,030 |
| Massachusetts | $35,850 |
| Connecticut | $35,380 |
| Hawaii | $35,250 |
| New York | $35,250 |
| Oregon | $35,050 |
See Fast Food and Counter Workers pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Food Servers, Nonrestaurant | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| Cooks, Restaurant | $38,930 | $18.72 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | $42,650 | $20.50 |
| 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 |
| Dishwasher | $36,850 | $17.71 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,360 | $17.00 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $60,770 | $29.22 |
| 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 35-3023. 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 fast food and counter workers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for fast food and counter workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $34,630 a year, or $16.65 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $38,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid fast food and counter workers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of fast food and counter workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $38,610 a year. The top 25% earn $36,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for fast food and counter workers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of fast food and counter workers earn $31,200 or less.
How many fast food and counter workers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 97,280 fast food and counter workers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.