How does Chefs and Head Cooks salary grow from entry-level to senior in Illinois? State salary progression based on 2024 BLS data.
151% career growth potentialData: BLS OEWS 2024 • Illinois salary data • Updated 2026-04-06
The salary range for Chefs and Head Cooks in Illinois spans from $39,530 at entry-level to $99,320 at senior level — a difference of $59,790 per year.
Senior Chefs and Head Cookss in Illinois earn $59,790 more per year than entry-level professionals.
Complete percentile breakdown showing how Chefs and Head Cooks salary increases with experience in Illinois, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).
| Experience Level | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | P10 | $39,530 | $3,294 | $19.00 |
| Early Career | P25 | $47,640 | $3,970 | $22.90 |
| Mid-Career | Median | $61,420 | $5,118 | $29.53 |
| Experienced | P75 | $78,270 | $6,522 | $37.63 |
| Senior / Expert | P90 | $99,320 | $8,277 | $47.75 |
Chefs and Head Cooks in Illinois shows strong salary progression over a career. Entry-level professionals start around $39,530, while senior-level professionals earn $99,320 — a 151% increase. The biggest salary jump typically occurs between mid-career ($61,420) and experienced level ($78,270), suggesting that specialization and leadership responsibilities are the key drivers of higher pay.
Where does Illinois rank for Chefs and Head Cooks senior-level salaries? Compare Illinois's P90 pay to other top-paying states.
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Entry-level Chefs and Head Cookss (10th percentile) earn approximately $39,530 per year, or $3,294 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $47,640. Based on 2024 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.
Senior Chefs and Head Cookss (90th percentile) earn approximately $99,320 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $78,270. This represents a career premium of 151% over entry-level pay.
The career salary growth potential for Chefs and Head Cookss is 151%. Entry-level professionals start at $39,530, while senior-level can earn up to $99,320 — a difference of $59,790 per year.
The highest-paying state for senior Chefs and Head Cookss is Illinois, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $99,320 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.
We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.
Salary percentile data for Illinois from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. State averages differ from national averages due to regional variations in cost of living, demand, and workforce composition. Actual salaries vary based on employer, experience, education, certifications, and specific location within Illinois.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS