Salaries › Fast Food Cook › Illinois
Fast Food Cook Salary in Illinois (2026)
$16.81 per hour · take-home ≈ $28,540/year ($2,378/month) for a single filer
Illinois ranks 14th of 51 states for Fast Food Cook pay, with a median about 10% above the national average. Of the 13,430 Fast Food Cook jobs BLS counts in Illinois, the typical worker earns $34,960 a year — though pay ranges from $31,200 for newcomers to $40,580 at the top.
Fast Food Cook pay range in Illinois
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $31,200 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $31,430 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $34,960 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $37,350 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $40,580 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 13,430 Fast Food Cook jobs in Illinois (occupation code 35-2011, “Cooks, Fast Food”).
Gross vs. take-home in Illinois
A median Fast Food Cook salary of $34,960 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Illinois state income tax, a single filer keeps about $28,540 — an effective tax rate of 18.4%.
| Gross (median) | $34,960 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,015 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,674 |
| Illinois state income tax | −$1,731 |
| Take-home (annual) | $28,540 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,378 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Illinois paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Fast Food Cook make in Illinois?
- The median Fast Food Cook salary in Illinois is $34,960 per year ($16.81 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $31,430 and $37,350.
- What is the take-home pay for a Fast Food Cook in Illinois?
- On the median salary of $34,960, a single filer in Illinois takes home about $28,540 per year ($2,378 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.4%.
- How many Fast Food Cook jobs are there in Illinois?
- BLS counts 13,430 Fast Food Cook jobs in Illinois in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Fast Food Cooks
Other salaries in Illinois
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Illinois state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Illinois.