Cook salary in Illinois
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A cook in Illinois earns a median of $37,580 a year ($18.07/hour equivalent), 0.5% above the national median of $37,390. Illinois ranks #21 of 51 states. About 53,540 people do this job in Illinois.
Take-home pay in Illinois
At the Illinois median, a single filer keeps about $30,660 a year after federal, FICA and Illinois taxes — $1,179 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Illinois paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,445.38
- Federal income tax
- −$89.60
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$89.61
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$20.96
- Illinois income tax
- −$65.98
- Take-home pay
- $1,179.23
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $37,580
- Federal
- $2,330
- FICA
- $2,875
- State + local
- $1,715
- Net
- $30,660
- 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 | Washington | $46,800 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $46,130 |
| #3 | Massachusetts | $45,600 |
| #4 | Hawaii | $45,420 |
| #5 | Vermont | $45,390 |
| #21 | Illinois | $37,580 |
| #49 | West Virginia | $29,590 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $29,560 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $29,050 |
See the national cook salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Cooks, Restaurant (SOC 35-2014), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cook make in Illinois?
The median salary is $37,580 a year and the average is $39,520 (BLS May 2025).
Is Illinois a good state for cooks?
Illinois ranks #21 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 1% above the national median of $37,390.
What is $37,580 after taxes in Illinois?
About $30,660 a year ($1,179 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.