Champaign-Urbana, IL · BLS OEWS & BEA Regional Data

Restaurant Cook Salary in Champaign-Urbana, IL

In the Champaign-Urbana, IL metropolitan area, restaurant cooks earned a median annual wage of $34,900 ($16.78/hour) in the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey. The 10th percentile was $28,900/year and the 90th was $43,100/year; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Illinois tax rules to the survey median leaves an estimated $28,639 in take-home pay. The metro price index is 92.7 against a national baseline of 100.

Wage Benchmark Overview

Median Annual Salary

$34,900$16.78 per hour · $2,908 monthly
10th Percentile$28,900$13.89/hr base
25th Percentile$32,800$15.77/hr base
75th Percentile$41,700$20.05/hr base
90th Percentile$43,100$20.72/hr base

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Take-Home Pay Explorer

$34,900
$15,000$70,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$34,900
Net 82%
Fed 6%
IL 5%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$28,639After all taxes
Monthly deposit$2,387Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,102Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate17.9%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$2,008 / yr
Illinois state income tax$1,583 / yr
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$2,670 / yr

Cooks, Restaurant Wage Percentiles in Champaign-Urbana, IL

Official survey estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Full-time calculations assume standard 2,080 annual working hours.

Wage Distribution for Cooks, Restaurant in the Champaign-Urbana, IL Metropolitan Area
Earning TierHourly WageMonthly GrossAnnual GrossEst. Annual Net (IL)
10th Percentile$13.89/hr$2,408$28,900$24,115
25th Percentile$15.77/hr$2,733$32,800$27,056
Median (50th Percentile)Metro Benchmark$16.78/hr$2,908$34,900$28,639
75th Percentile$20.05/hr$3,475$41,700$33,767
90th Percentile$20.72/hr$3,592$43,100$34,822

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power in Champaign-Urbana, IL

A dollar does not buy the same basket of goods everywhere. Compare how $$34,900 measures up against local economic conditions:

Metro Median Household Income$65,528Census Bureau ACS
BEA Price Parity Index92.77.3% below national average
Individual vs Household Ratio53.3%of area median income

Compare restaurant cooks salaries statewide and examine overall earnings in Illinois:

Frequently Asked Questions About Cooks, Restaurant Pay in Champaign-Urbana, IL

What is the median salary for restaurant cooks in Champaign-Urbana, IL?

The official BLS median annual wage for restaurant cooks in Champaign-Urbana, IL is $34,900, which equates to approximately $2,908 per month or $16.78 per hour for a 2,080-hour work year.

What is the hourly pay for restaurant cooks in Champaign-Urbana, IL?

The median hourly wage for restaurant cooks in Champaign-Urbana, IL is $16.78 per hour based on the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $13.89/hour and one in ten earned more than $20.72/hour.

What is the pay range for restaurant cooks in Champaign-Urbana, IL?

BLS wage estimates for restaurant cooks in Champaign-Urbana, IL span from $28,900 at the 10th percentile to $32,800 at the 25th, $41,700 at the 75th, and $43,100 at the 90th. These are wage distribution points, not experience levels.

How much do restaurant cooks take home after taxes in Champaign-Urbana, IL?

On a median gross salary of $34,900, an estimated $28,639 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,102 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Illinois in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $6,261 (an effective rate of 17.9%).

How much do restaurant cooks make per month in Champaign-Urbana, IL?

On the median annual salary of $34,900, gross monthly income is $2,908. After federal, FICA, and Illinois state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $2,387 per month (or $1,102 every two weeks).

Is $34,900 a good salary in Champaign-Urbana, IL?

At $34,900, the median salary for restaurant cooks is 53.3% of the Champaign-Urbana, IL median household income ($65,528). According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the metropolitan price parity index is 92.7, making regional consumer goods and services 7.3% cheaper than the U.S. average.