Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Champaign
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,840 a year or less, while the top 10% make $73,120 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Champaign earn between $46,430 and $60,890.
- $34K10th
- $46K25th
- $48KMedian
- $61K75th
- $73K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,240 | $4,437 | $25.60 |
| Median | $48,040 | $4,003 | $23.10 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,430 | $3,869 | $22.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,890 | $5,074 | $29.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Champaign vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Champaign earn 15% less than the Illinois average ($62,810) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $53,240 | $48,040 | $33,840 | $73,120 | 130 |
| Illinois | $62,810 | $58,830 | $40,330 | $88,420 | 8,290 |
| United States | $66,700 | $62,470 | $37,900 | $98,560 | 200,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary after taxes in Champaign
On the average salary of $53,240, a single filer in Champaign takes home about $42,464 a year, or $3,539 a month and $1,633 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Champaign a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Champaign area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.7), so the average $53,240 buys what about $57,430 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Champaign ($50,700). A typical home costs $237,290, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Illinois cities
Champaign ranks 6th of 7 Illinois metro areas for this job; Chicago pays the most ($64,510).
- Chicago$64,510
- Bloomington$57,290
- Peoria$56,750
- Springfield$56,190
- Rockford$53,670
- Champaign$53,240
- Kankakee$51,650
Highest-paying cities for chefs and head cooks
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($91,380).
- Kahului, HI$91,380
- Napa, CA$83,750
- San Jose, CA$80,150
- Albany, NY$79,500
- Providence, RI$79,440
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Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Champaign: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Champaign?
$25.60 an hour on average, and $23.10 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Champaign?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,840 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Champaign?
About $42,464 a year ($3,539 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,240.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Champaign than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% less than the U.S. average for this job ($66,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 35-1011; area Champaign-Urbana, IL (16580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.94, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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