Sous Chef Salary in Chicago

What you should make. What you should ask for. Calculated from 1M+ data points, refreshed monthly.

25th pctl

$44K

Median (p50)

$53K

75th pctl

$63K

90th pctl

$74K

Adjusted for Chicago at 1.05× the national baseline. See the math →

What this number means.

Sous Chef in Chicago pulls a median of $52,500 at mid-IC, with a top-quartile band reaching $63,000 and the 90th percentile at $73,500. Chicago's cost-of-living tilt is 1.05× — the band reflects that. $63,000 is what top-quartile Sous Chef pay looks like in Chicago. Don't undersell.

How to negotiate this

Anchor$63,000 — the top-quartile number. This is the number you say first.
Target$57,750 — where a fair counter lands. Above the median, below the anchor.
Floor$52,500 — below this, you're underpaid. Walking away gets cheaper than staying.

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Read how these numbers are computed →

Numbers are estimates. Your offer depends on company, level, equity structure, and the conversation you're about to have. AMMO is a tool. You are the negotiator.