Illinois Median
$35,080
per year
Hourly Rate
$16.87
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-1% vs US median
US median $35,360
State Rank
#22 of 51
17,560 employed here
How much does a Food Server, Nonrestaurant make in Illinois?
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in Illinois take home a median of $35,080 annually — roughly $16.87 an hour — which runs 1% below the national median of $35,360.
Within Illinois, entry-level pay starts around $31,200 while the top 10% make $41,960 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $31,290 and $37,360 a year.
Food Server, Nonrestaurant salary range in Illinois
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $31,290 | $15.04 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $35,080 | $16.87 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $37,360 | $17.96 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $41,960 | $20.17 |
|
How Illinois compares
Illinois ranks 22nd out of 51 states and territories for Food Server, Nonrestaurant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Food Server, Nonrestaurant salary in other states
New York $39,370California $39,010Colorado $38,900Washington $38,870Alaska $38,090District of Columbia $37,920Hawaii $37,920Maine $37,680Vermont $37,540North Dakota $36,910Massachusetts $36,750New Hampshire $36,710Maryland $36,650Oregon $36,620New Jersey $36,390Nevada $36,030Minnesota $36,000Connecticut $35,950New Mexico $35,740Arizona $35,390Virginia $35,090Rhode Island $34,860Wisconsin $34,670Michigan $34,260Idaho $34,220Florida $33,930Pennsylvania $33,300Wyoming $33,090Kentucky $32,200Montana $32,090South Dakota $31,980Indiana $31,840Missouri $31,840South Carolina $31,740Nebraska $31,540Georgia $31,530North Carolina $31,460Delaware $31,430Tennessee $30,670Ohio $30,440Utah $30,170West Virginia $30,170Iowa $30,110Texas $29,300Kansas $29,040Alabama $29,000Oklahoma $28,490Arkansas $27,600Mississippi $27,250Louisiana $27,200
Working as a Food Server, Nonrestaurant in Illinois
Nationally, about 294,000 people work as Food Servers, Nonrestaurant in the United States. No college degree is required — most training happens on the job.
Considering a move? Compare Illinois pay ($35,080) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Food Server, Nonrestaurant make in Illinois?
The median Food Server, Nonrestaurant salary in Illinois is $35,080 per year, or about $16.87 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $31,200 at the entry level to $41,960 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Illinois pay compare to the national average?
Illinois pays Food Servers, Nonrestaurant about 1% less than the national median of $35,360. Illinois ranks 22nd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Illinois a good state for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $35,080 a year. About 17,560 Food Servers, Nonrestaurant are employed in Illinois. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Illinois?
The highest-paying occupations in Illinois include Cardiologist ($517,850), Surgeon, All Other ($438,010), Dermatologist ($435,750), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Food Server, Nonrestaurant salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.