The median annual wage for Chefs and Head Cooks in Illinois is $61,450 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $63,360.
Pay spans roughly $35,290 at the 10th percentile to $95,830 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $29.54 per hour. An estimated 5,540 people work as chefs and head cooks in Illinois.
| Median (annual) | $61,450 |
| Mean (annual) | $63,360 |
| Median (hourly) | $29.54 |
| 10th percentile | $35,290 |
| 90th percentile | $95,830 |
| Employment | 5,540 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.