The median annual wage for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria in Illinois is $36,430 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $38,050.
Pay spans roughly $29,330 at the 10th percentile to $48,440 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $17.52 per hour. An estimated 22,850 people work as cooks, institution and cafeteria in Illinois.
| Median (annual) | $36,430 |
| Mean (annual) | $38,050 |
| Median (hourly) | $17.52 |
| 10th percentile | $29,330 |
| 90th percentile | $48,440 |
| Employment | 22,850 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.