Chefs and Head Cooks Salary in Illinois: $65,000 Average

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Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET

Average base salary, Illinois

$65,000 / year

≈ $5,400 per month · $31.25 per hour

LocationOr metro area

BLS May 2025 state data for Illinois · median $61,000

25th percentile
$52,000Average
$65,00075th percentile
$76,000

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

Chefs and Head Cooks salary by state

Alabama$66,000

Alaska$61,500

Arizona$62,500

Arkansas$55,500

California$71,500

Colorado$73,000

Connecticut$72,000

Delaware$69,000

District of Columbia$82,500

Florida$64,000

Georgia$73,000

Hawaii$83,500

Idaho$59,500

Illinois$65,000

Indiana$57,000

Iowa$54,500

Kansas$63,000

Kentucky$57,500

Louisiana$54,500

Maine$63,500

Maryland$68,000

Massachusetts$76,000

Michigan$64,500

Minnesota$69,500

Mississippi$59,000

Missouri$69,000

Montana$63,500

Nebraska$69,500

Nevada$69,500

New Hampshire$69,000

New Jersey$75,500

New Mexico$69,500

New York$77,500

North Carolina$66,000

North Dakota$71,000

Ohio$63,500

Oklahoma$59,000

Oregon$70,000

Pennsylvania$70,500

Rhode Island$88,000

South Carolina$73,500

South Dakota$49,500

Tennessee$73,000

Texas$61,500

Utah$61,000

Vermont$70,500

Virginia$67,500

Washington$77,500

West Virginia$67,000

Wisconsin$66,500

Wyoming$77,000

About this role

Chefs and Head Cooks is a professional role within the function in the Food Preparation and Serving job family.

Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

What Chefs and Head Cookss do

Typical education: Associate's Degree

Monitor sanitation practices to ensure that employees follow standards and regulations.
Instruct cooks or other workers in the preparation, cooking, garnishing, or presentation of food.
Supervise or coordinate activities of cooks or workers engaged in food preparation.
Order or requisition food or other supplies needed to ensure efficient operation.
Inspect supplies, equipment, or work areas to ensure conformance to established standards.

Top skills: Coordination Monitoring Time Management Speaking Social Perceptiveness Management of Personnel Resources

Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).

Chefs and Head Cooks pay by experience level

Entry level$39,000

Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)

Early career$50,000

A few years in (about the 25th percentile)

Experienced$64,500

Mid-career median pay

Senior$81,500

Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)

Top earners$102,000

Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)

Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.

Job outlook

+7.1%

projected change in jobs, 2024–2034

24,400

projected openings per year

Growing about as fast as average

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.

Chefs and Head Cooks salary by industry

Food Services and Drinking Places

141,120 workers

$66,000

Restaurants and Other Eating Places

117,450 workers

$64,500

Special Food Services

21,910 workers

$73,500

Accommodation

19,340 workers

$80,000

Traveler Accommodation

19,060 workers

$80,000

Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries

11,920 workers

$81,500

Other Amusement and Recreation Industries

10,230 workers

$83,000

Nursing and Residential Care Facilities

6,650 workers

$64,500

Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly

5,190 workers

$65,000

Educational Services

2,540 workers

$65,000

National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.

How this role compares

Chefs and Head Cooks pays 70% above the average across 18 roles in the Food Preparation and Serving job family (family average $40,500).

Similar-paying roles in Food Preparation and Serving

Cooks, Private Household$55,500

First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$48,000

Bartender$42,000

Waiters and Waitresses$41,500

Cooks, All Other$40,500

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$40,000

Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$38,000

Cooks, Short Order$37,500

Food Preparation Worker$36,500

Dishwasher$35,500

Careers related to Chefs and Head Cooks

Cooks, Restaurant$40,000

Cooks, Private Household$55,500

Baker$40,000

Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$40,000

Cooks, Short Order$37,500

Food Service Manager$77,500

Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Chefs and Head Cooks make?

The average base salary for a Chefs and Head Cooks in the United States is $69,000 per year, or about $33.17 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $50,000 and $81,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Food Preparation and Serving roles?

The Food Preparation and Serving job family averages $40,500 across 18 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
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