Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $35,670 a year ($17.15 an hour), based on BLS data for 12,200 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,010 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $35,360. Pay here is 2% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $35,080. There are 2.7 food servers, nonrestaurant per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $36,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food servers, nonrestaurant in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $33,350 | $16.03 |
| Median | $35,670 | $17.15 |
| 75th percentile | $38,040 | $18.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| Average (mean) | $36,550 | $17.57 |
Half of food servers, nonrestaurant 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 | $2,972.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,486.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,371.92 |
| Weekly | $685.96 |
| Hourly | $17.15 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,670 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 Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne, IN | $35,190 | 440 |
| Springfield, IL | $34,800 | 240 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $34,630 | 130 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $34,580 | 330 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $34,340 | 3,250 |
| Decatur, IL | $33,710 | 100 |
| Peoria, IL | $33,700 | 490 |
| Bloomington, IL | $33,540 | 230 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $33,400 | 120 |
| Kokomo, IN | $32,860 | 80 |
| Kankakee, IL | $32,430 | 240 |
| Columbus, IN | $32,340 | 40 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $32,070 | 3,490 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $31,960 | 1,360 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $31,780 | 1,690 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,730 | 630 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,670 | 470 |
| Muncie, IN | $30,510 | 70 |
| Evansville, IN | $30,360 | 120 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $30,090 | 180 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $29,990 | 140 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $29,800 | 210 |
Highest-paying states for food servers, nonrestaurant
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $39,370 |
| California | $39,010 |
| Colorado | $38,900 |
| Washington | $38,870 |
| Alaska | $38,090 |
| District of Columbia | $37,920 |
| Hawaii | $37,920 |
| Maine | $37,680 |
| Vermont | $37,540 |
| North Dakota | $36,910 |
See Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $34,630 | $16.65 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| Bartender | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 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 35-3041. 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 servers, nonrestaurant make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for food servers, nonrestaurant in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $35,670 a year, or $17.15 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $44,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food servers, nonrestaurant make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of food servers, nonrestaurant in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $44,010 a year. The top 25% earn $38,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for food servers, nonrestaurant in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of food servers, nonrestaurant earn $33,350 or less.
How many food servers, nonrestaurant work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 12,200 food servers, nonrestaurant are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.