Cooks, All Other pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,340 or more. The middle half of other cooks in Chicago earn between $35,940 and $44,610.
- $36K10th
- $36K25th
- $36KMedian
- $45K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,920 | $3,327 | $19.19 |
| Median | $35,940 | $2,995 | $17.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,940 | $2,995 | $17.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $44,610 | $3,718 | $21.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cooks, All Other pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Other cooks in Chicago earn 8% less than the Illinois average ($43,460) and about the same as the U.S. average ($39,150). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $37,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $39,920 | $35,940 | $35,940 | $48,340 | n/a |
| Illinois | $43,460 | $35,940 | $35,940 | $57,310 | n/a |
| United States | $39,150 | $37,690 | $27,040 | $51,140 | 19,350 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cooks, All Other salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $39,920, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $32,421 a year, or $2,702 a month and $1,247 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 | $33,088 | $2,757 |
| Working in IL | $32,421 | $2,702 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for other 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 $39,920 buys what about $38,535 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Cooks, All Other salary in nearby metro areas
- Ann Arbor, MI$39,190
- Clarksville, TN$32,100
- Minneapolis, MN$39,390
- Nashville, TN$31,930
- Knoxville, TN$32,220
- Buffalo, NY$41,160
Highest-paying cities for other cooks
Burlington, VT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,270).
- Burlington, VT$54,270
- Seattle, WA$53,780
- Las Vegas, NV$50,820
- Syracuse, NY$50,610
- San Jose, CA$48,760
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Cooks, All Other salary in Chicago: questions
How much do other cooks make an hour in Chicago?
$19.19 an hour on average, and $17.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other cooks salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $35,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other cooks take-home pay in Chicago?
About $32,421 a year ($2,702 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,920.
Do other cooks earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($39,150).
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 35-2019; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.7%.
- 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).
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