Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Chefs and Head Cooks salary really buy you in Illinois?
Illinois is near the US average cost of livingData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Illinois's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.3, meaning prices are 1.3% higher the national average. A Chefs and Head Cooks earning $58,830 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $58,075 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $40,330 | $39,812 | $-517 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $50,000 | $49,358 | $-641 |
| Median (P50) | $58,830 | $58,075 | $-754 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $73,620 | $72,675 | $-944 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $88,420 | $87,285 | $-1,134 |
Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $58,830 keeps most of its value at $58,075 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
With an RPP of 101.3, Illinois is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Chefs and Head Cooks is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living, $58,830 nominal nets out to $58,075 in real purchasing power — a small 1.3% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Chefs and Head Cooks.
Illinois ranks #39 of 51 — bottom quartile for Chefs and Head Cooks real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Chefs and Head Cooks salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Illinois ranks #39 out of 51 states for Chefs and Head Cooks after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Chefs and Head Cooks take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →
A Chefs and Head Cooks in Illinois earns a median salary of $58,830 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $58,075 — a -1.3% difference.
Illinois's cost of living is 1.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Illinois is 101.3 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Chefs and Head Cooks in Illinois: $58,830 x (100 / 101.3) = $58,075. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.