Chefs and Head Cooks pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $89,990 or more. The middle half of chefs and head cooks in Chicago earn between $51,990 and $73,620.
- $40K10th
- $52K25th
- $61KMedian
- $74K75th
- $90K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $64,510 | $5,376 | $31.01 |
| Median | $60,770 | $5,064 | $29.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,990 | $4,332 | $25.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $73,620 | $6,135 | $35.39 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chefs and Head Cooks pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Chefs and head cooks in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($62,810) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($66,700). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $64,510 | $60,770 | $40,330 | $89,990 | 6,840 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $64,510, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $50,962 a year, or $4,247 a month and $1,960 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $52,108 | $4,342 |
| Working in IL | $50,962 | $4,247 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for chefs and head cooks? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $64,510 buys what about $62,271 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Chefs and Head Cooks salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 7 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Chicago: questions
How much do chefs and head cooks make an hour in Chicago?
$31.02 an hour on average, and $29.22 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chefs and head cooks salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chefs and head cooks take-home pay in Chicago?
About $50,962 a year ($4,247 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $64,510.
Do chefs and head cooks earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.4%.
- 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 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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