Food Preparation Worker salary in Illinois
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A food preparation worker in Illinois earns a median of $34,850 a year ($16.75/hour equivalent), 1.3% below the national median of $35,320. Illinois ranks #25 of 51 states. About 34,820 people do this job in Illinois.
Take-home pay in Illinois
At the Illinois median, a single filer keeps about $28,602 a year after federal, FICA and Illinois taxes — $1,100 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Illinois paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,340.38
- Federal income tax
- −$77.00
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$83.10
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$19.44
- Illinois income tax
- −$60.78
- Take-home pay
- $1,100.06
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $34,850
- Federal
- $2,002
- FICA
- $2,666
- State + local
- $1,580
- Net
- $28,602
- 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 | $40,910 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $39,600 |
| #3 | California | $39,350 |
| #4 | Colorado | $38,960 |
| #5 | Massachusetts | $38,900 |
| #25 | Illinois | $34,850 |
| #49 | Kentucky | $26,850 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $26,240 |
| #51 | Louisiana | $23,620 |
See the national food preparation worker salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Food Preparation Workers (SOC 35-2021), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food preparation worker make in Illinois?
The median salary is $34,850 a year and the average is $36,260 (BLS May 2025).
Is Illinois a good state for food preparation workers?
Illinois ranks #25 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 1% below the national median of $35,320.
What is $34,850 after taxes in Illinois?
About $28,602 a year ($1,100 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.