Food Preparation Workers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,330 or more. The middle half of food preparation workers in Chicago earn between $31,200 and $38,870.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $35KMedian
- $39K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $36,980 | $3,082 | $17.78 |
| Median | $35,410 | $2,951 | $17.02 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,870 | $3,239 | $18.69 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Preparation Workers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Food preparation workers in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($36,260) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($35,290). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $35,320.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $36,980 | $35,410 | $31,200 | $45,330 | 27,100 |
| Illinois | $36,260 | $34,850 | $31,200 | $44,990 | 34,820 |
| United States | $35,290 | $35,320 | $25,810 | $45,340 | 893,600 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Preparation Workers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $36,980, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $30,204 a year, or $2,517 a month and $1,162 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 | $30,814 | $2,568 |
| Working in IL | $30,204 | $2,517 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for food preparation workers? 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 $36,980 buys what about $35,697 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 9.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Preparation Workers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$36,980
- Decatur$34,380
- Rockford$34,330
- Champaign$34,180
- Peoria$34,050
- Springfield$33,860
- Bloomington$33,590
- Kankakee$33,530
Highest-paying cities for food preparation workers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($48,150).
- Kahului, HI$48,150
- San Jose, CA$45,660
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Napa, CA$44,240
- Santa Rosa, CA$43,450
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Food Preparation Workers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do food preparation workers make an hour in Chicago?
$17.78 an hour on average, and $17.02 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food preparation workers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food preparation workers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $30,204 a year ($2,517 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $36,980.
Do food preparation workers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. average for this job ($35,290).
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 35-2021; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 1.04, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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