Salaries › Food Prep Worker › Illinois
Food Prep Worker Salary in Illinois (2026)
$16.75 per hour · take-home ≈ $28,457/year ($2,371/month) for a single filer
Food Prep Worker pay range in Illinois
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $31,200 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $34,850 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $37,880 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $44,990 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 34,820 Food Prep Worker jobs in Illinois (occupation code 35-2021, “Food Preparation Workers”).
Gross vs. take-home in Illinois
A median Food Prep Worker salary of $34,850 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 $28,457 — an effective tax rate of 18.3%.
| Gross (median) | $34,850 |
| Federal income tax | −$2,002 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$2,666 |
| Illinois state income tax | −$1,725 |
| Take-home (annual) | $28,457 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $2,371 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Illinois paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Food Prep Worker make in Illinois?
- The median Food Prep Worker salary in Illinois is $34,850 per year ($16.75 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $31,200 and $37,880.
- What is the take-home pay for a Food Prep Worker in Illinois?
- On the median salary of $34,850, a single filer in Illinois takes home about $28,457 per year ($2,371 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 18.3%.
- How many Food Prep Worker jobs are there in Illinois?
- BLS counts 34,820 Food Prep Worker jobs in Illinois in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Food Prep Workers
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.