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Cooks, Fast Food Employment & Job Outlook in Illinois (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

Illinois employs 13,430 Cooks, Fast Food professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • Illinois employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
13,430
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
13.43
workers
Location Quotient
1.03
vs national avg
Average Salary
$35K
annual

Average Demand in Illinois

The location quotient (LQ) of 1.03 indicates that Illinois has an average concentration of Cooks, Fast Food professionals, similar to the national average employment distribution.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

Illinois vs National Average

Total Employed
13,430
National: 638,250
2.1% of national
Jobs per 1,000
13.43
National: 13.03
+3.1%
Average Salary
$35K
National: $32K
+8.6%

Top States by Cooks, Fast Food Employment

#1
124,440
124,440
employed
#2
81,980
81,980
employed
#3
55,780
55,780
employed
#4
36,240
36,240
employed
#5
26,740
26,740
employed
#6
22,600
22,600
employed
#7
21,750
21,750
employed
#8
16,490
16,490
employed
#9
14,340
14,340
employed
#10
14,020
14,020
employed

What Does a Cooks, Fast Food Earn in Illinois?

The average annual salary for a Cooks, Fast Food in Illinois is $35,340. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Cooks, Fast Food jobs are there in Illinois?

Illinois employs approximately 13,430 Cooks, Fast Food professionals (2025 BLS data). This ranks Illinois among the top states nationwide.

Is Cooks, Fast Food in demand in Illinois?

Yes — Illinois has above-average concentration of Cooks, Fast Food jobs (LQ: 1.03). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Illinois?

The average (mean) salary for Cooks, Fast Food in Illinois is $35340/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Cooks, Fast Food professionals?

The top state for Cooks, Fast Food employment is California with 124,440 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

Related Pages

Top Cities in Illinois

Explore cost of living, median household income, and demographics for Illinois's largest cities.

Top Colleges in Illinois

Compare tuition, admissions, and graduate outcomes at Illinois's leading institutions.

Cooks, Fast Food Employment in Other States

Compare Cooks, Fast Food labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Cooks, Fast Food & Illinois Resources

Drill deeper into Cooks, Fast Food pay, hiring, and education data for Illinois.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Cooks, Fast Food (SOC 352011) in Illinois.

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