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 | $14.03 | $15.47 | $17.86 |
| Yearly | $29,178 | $32,181 | $37,161 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $13.70 | $14.46 | $16.47 |
| Yearly | $28,493 | $30,064 | $34,264 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $13.79 | $14.24 | $15.40 |
| Yearly | $28,686 | $29,616 | $32,043 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $14.12 | $16.43 | $18.25 |
| Yearly | $29,359 | $34,173 | $37,943 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $13.74 | $14.39 | $15.83 |
| Yearly | $28,588 | $29,944 | $32,919 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $14.30 | $16.01 | $18.26 |
| Yearly | $29,739 | $33,303 | $37,975 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $13.98 | $15.99 | $18.11 |
| Yearly | $29,063 | $33,259 | $37,681 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $13.46 | $14.54 | $15.34 |
| Yearly | $27,991 | $30,232 | $31,909 | |
| Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area | Hourly | $13.82 | $14.18 | $14.67 |
| Yearly | $28,765 | $29,499 | $30,507 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $13.95 | $14.84 | $17.96 |
| Yearly | $29,011 | $30,879 | $37,362 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $14.31 | $16.33 | $18.30 |
| Yearly | $29,781 | $33,961 | $38,053 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $14.12 | $16.21 | $18.23 |
| Yearly | $29,359 | $33,716 | $37,906 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $13.69 | $14.08 | $14.67 |
| Yearly | $28,486 | $29,278 | $30,507 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $13.64 | $14.31 | $16.01 |
| Yearly | $28,371 | $29,761 | $33,306 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $13.85 | $14.25 | $15.36 |
| Yearly | $28,791 | $29,648 | $31,954 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $13.22 | $14.03 | $15.25 |
| Yearly | $27,487 | $29,174 | $31,716 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $13.67 | $14.54 | $16.43 |
| Yearly | $28,432 | $30,239 | $34,174 | |
| Shawnee National Forest Area | Hourly | $13.38 | $14.08 | $14.87 |
| Yearly | $27,820 | $29,292 | $30,928 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $13.75 | $14.60 | $15.61 |
| Yearly | $28,605 | $30,371 | $32,473 | |
| Vermilion County | Hourly | $13.27 | $13.88 | $15.91 |
| Yearly | $27,583 | $28,871 | $33,096 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $14.06 | $16.01 | $18.03 |
| Yearly | $29,234 | $33,302 | $37,510 | |
| United States | Hourly | $13.42 | $15.59 | $17.68 |
| Yearly | $27,920 | $32,420 | $36,780 | |