Waiters and Waitresses salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Waiters and Waitresses in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $31,200 a year ($15.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 54,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,410 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $35,230. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $31,200. There are 12 waiters and waitresses per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $35,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for waiters and waitresses 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 | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 75th percentile | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $50,410 | $24.24 |
| Average (mean) | $35,650 | $17.14 |
Half of waiters and waitresses 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 | $2,600 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,300 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,200 |
| Weekly | $600 |
| Hourly | $15.00 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $31,200 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Waiters and Waitresses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,530 | 17,790 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,200 | 1,370 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $31,200 | 1,500 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $31,200 | 2,680 |
| Decatur, IL | $31,200 | 530 |
| Kankakee, IL | $31,200 | 550 |
| Peoria, IL | $31,200 | 2,340 |
| Rockford, IL | $31,200 | 1,710 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $31,200 | 20,170 |
| Springfield, IL | $31,200 | 1,600 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $30,180 | 10,220 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $29,280 | 1,010 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $29,050 | 15,830 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $28,740 | 1,970 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28,710 | 820 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $28,650 | 3,150 |
| Evansville, IN | $28,550 | 2,070 |
| Bloomington, IN | $28,540 | 1,620 |
| Kokomo, IN | $28,420 | 690 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $28,420 | 1,490 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $28,260 | 680 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $28,060 | 1,070 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $26,520 | 1,050 |
| Columbus, IN | $26,340 | 490 |
| Muncie, IN | $23,720 | 730 |
Highest-paying states for waiters and waitresses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $62,390 |
| Vermont | $59,140 |
| Washington | $56,130 |
| Oregon | $48,410 |
| District of Columbia | $47,850 |
| New York | $47,020 |
| New Jersey | $44,960 |
| Colorado | $44,860 |
| Virginia | $44,760 |
| Arizona | $43,950 |
See Waiters and Waitresses 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 |
| 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 35-3031. 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 waiters and waitresses make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for waiters and waitresses in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $31,200 a year, or $15.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $50,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid waiters and waitresses make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of waiters and waitresses in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $50,410 a year. The top 25% earn $35,800 or more.
What is the starting pay for waiters and waitresses in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of waiters and waitresses earn $31,200 or less.
How many waiters and waitresses work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 54,100 waiters and waitresses are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.