The median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $63,570 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $65,290.
Pay spans roughly $35,290 at the 10th percentile to $99,150 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $30.56 per hour. An estimated 4,470 people work as chefs and head cooks in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
| Median (annual) | $63,570 |
| Mean (annual) | $65,290 |
| Median (hourly) | $30.56 |
| 10th percentile | $35,290 |
| 90th percentile | $99,150 |
| Employment | 4,470 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.