Food Preparation Worker salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Food Preparation Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $35,410 a year ($17.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 27,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,330 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $35,320. Pay here is 2% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $34,850. There are 6.0 food preparation workers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $36,980, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food preparation 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 | $35,410 | $17.02 |
| 75th percentile | $38,870 | $18.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $45,330 | $21.80 |
| Average (mean) | $36,980 | $17.78 |
Half of food preparation 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 | $2,950.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,475.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,361.92 |
| Weekly | $680.96 |
| Hourly | $17.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,410 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Preparation Worker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $34,320 | 5,320 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $33,640 | 660 |
| Decatur, IL | $33,450 | 200 |
| Rockford, IL | $32,530 | 720 |
| Springfield, IL | $32,530 | 510 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $32,400 | 6,220 |
| Columbus, IN | $32,150 | 200 |
| Peoria, IL | $32,140 | 770 |
| Bloomington, IL | $32,030 | 580 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,850 | 660 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 620 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 270 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $30,850 | 900 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $30,490 | 4,870 |
| Bloomington, IN | $30,340 | 400 |
| Kokomo, IN | $30,160 | 230 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,970 | 760 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $29,640 | 4,910 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $29,500 | 420 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,860 | 240 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,640 | 240 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $28,610 | 340 |
| Evansville, IN | $28,440 | 860 |
| Muncie, IN | $27,860 | 280 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $27,210 | 480 |
Highest-paying states for food preparation workers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $40,910 |
| District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| California | $39,350 |
| Colorado | $38,960 |
| Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| Hawaii | $38,160 |
| Oregon | $37,450 |
| North Dakota | $36,800 |
| New Hampshire | $36,780 |
| Arizona | $36,750 |
See Food Preparation Worker 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 |
| Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| 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 35-2021. 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 food preparation worker make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for food preparation workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $35,410 a year, or $17.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $45,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food preparation workers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of food preparation workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $45,330 a year. The top 25% earn $38,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for food preparation workers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of food preparation workers earn $31,200 or less.
How many food preparation workers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 27,100 food preparation workers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.