Cook salary in Illinois
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A cook in Illinois earns a median of $34,960 a year ($16.81/hour equivalent), 13.2% above the national median of $30,890. Illinois ranks #14 of 51 states. About 13,430 people do this job in Illinois.
Take-home pay in Illinois
At the Illinois median, a single filer keeps about $28,685 a year after federal, FICA and Illinois taxes — $1,103 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Illinois paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,344.62
- Federal income tax
- −$77.51
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$83.37
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.50
- Illinois income tax
- −$60.99
- Take-home pay
- $1,103.25
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $34,960
- Federal
- $2,015
- FICA
- $2,674
- State + local
- $1,586
- Net
- $28,685
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 5.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Illinois compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Hawaii | $48,120 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $44,670 |
| #3 | California | $42,050 |
| #4 | Washington | $39,120 |
| #5 | New Hampshire | $38,590 |
| #14 | Illinois | $34,960 |
| #49 | Kentucky | $23,500 |
| #50 | West Virginia | $23,120 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $22,670 |
See the national cook salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Cooks, Fast Food (SOC 35-2011), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make in Illinois?
The median salary is $34,960 a year and the average is $35,340 (BLS May 2025).
Is Illinois a good state for cooks?
Illinois ranks #14 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 13% above the national median of $30,890.
What is $34,960 after taxes in Illinois?
About $28,685 a year ($1,103 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.