Outpaid

Chefs and Head Cooks salary
in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Chefs and Head Cooks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro earn a median of $60,770 a year, based on BLS estimates for 6,840 jobs (May 2025). That is 3% below the U.S. median of $62,470 and 3% above the IL statewide median of $58,830. It ranks #91 of 160 metros with published figures for this job.

CHEFS AND HEAD COOKS · CHICAGO-NAPERVILLE-ELGIN, IL-IN · BLS
BLS OEWS MAY 2025 · CHICAGO-NAPERVILLE-ELGIN, IL-IN · ALL EMPLOYERS, ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS
P10$40,330P25$51,990MEDIAN$60,770P75$73,620P90$89,990
BLS · UNITED STATES
P10$37,900P25$48,440MEDIAN$62,470P75$78,750P90$98,560
30 SECONDS · NO SIGNUP · ON-DEVICE

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Questions

What is the average Chefs and Head Cooks salary in Chicago?

The BLS median is $60,770 a year (May 2025). Half of the 6,840 jobs pay between $51,990 and $73,620. The 10th percentile is $40,330 and the 90th is $89,990.

Is Chicago a high-paying metro for Chefs and Head Cooks?

That is 3% below the U.S. median of $62,470 and 3% above the IL statewide median of $58,830. It ranks #91 of 160 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.

Does this include experience levels?

BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).

Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.