Wages vary by employer and area of the country. Wages also vary by the worker's level of experience and responsibility.
Full-time food preparation workers often receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance.
Food preparation workers (SOC 35-2021)
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $13.91 | $14.50 | $17.72 |
| Yearly | $28,930 | $30,164 | $36,855 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $13.16 | $13.59 | $14.74 |
| Yearly | $27,378 | $28,256 | $30,651 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $12.61 | $13.18 | $14.19 |
| Yearly | $26,226 | $27,404 | $29,521 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $14.29 | $15.42 | $17.98 |
| Yearly | $29,712 | $32,068 | $37,388 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $12.93 | $13.80 | $16.37 |
| Yearly | $26,897 | $28,690 | $34,036 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $14.25 | $14.66 | $18.06 |
| Yearly | $29,629 | $30,496 | $37,566 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $12.87 | $13.65 | $14.67 |
| Yearly | $26,767 | $28,394 | $30,524 | |
| Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $13.13 | $14.28 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $27,312 | $29,695 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $13.33 | $14.33 | $17.00 |
| Yearly | $27,711 | $29,807 | $35,341 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $14.32 | $15.07 | $18.06 |
| Yearly | $29,778 | $31,342 | $37,562 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $14.25 | $14.99 | $18.05 |
| Yearly | $29,629 | $31,176 | $37,549 | |
| Mt. Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $13.10 | $13.98 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $27,249 | $29,081 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $12.61 | $13.42 | $14.13 |
| Yearly | $26,226 | $27,919 | $29,390 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $12.71 | $13.92 | $15.10 |
| Yearly | $26,437 | $28,954 | $31,408 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $13.14 | $14.20 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $27,336 | $29,538 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $13.64 | $14.70 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $28,377 | $30,564 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $13.11 | $13.67 | $14.84 |
| Yearly | $27,252 | $28,433 | $30,874 | |
| Shawnee National Forest Area | Hourly | $12.54 | $13.18 | $14.20 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $27,422 | $29,538 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $12.84 | $14.30 | $14.63 |
| Yearly | $26,689 | $29,732 | $30,436 | |
| St. Louis-Belleville Area | Hourly | $12.93 | $13.65 | $14.67 |
| Yearly | $26,895 | $28,395 | $30,524 | |
| Vermilion County | Hourly | $12.54 | $13.36 | $14.79 |
| Yearly | $26,088 | $27,777 | $30,765 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $14.28 | $14.99 | $18.06 |
| Yearly | $29,695 | $31,165 | $37,562 | |
| United States | Hourly | $12.44 | $14.32 | $16.81 |
| Yearly | $25,880 | $29,790 | $34,970 | |