Family Chef jobs in Chicago, IL typically pay $28–$45 an hour (about $4,850–$7,800 a month full time). Both live-in and live-out positions are offered, with a usual schedule of 5 days a week with flexible evenings. Employers ask for culinary training or professional kitchen experience and a criminal background check. Register with AvailJob to be matched with families hiring in Chicago.
- Typical pay
- $28–$45
- per hour
- Full-time monthly
- $4,850–$7,800
- about 40 hours a week
- Live-in
- Sometimes
- accommodation provided
- Schedule
- 5 days a week with flexible evenings
- Open now
- 0
- register to be matched
Open family chef positions in Chicago
No open position is listed for Chicago today. New family chef jobs are added as families hire. Register once and we will match you to the next opening near you.
Register as a Family ChefAbout family chef jobs in Chicago
Family Chef jobs in Chicago, IL are household positions: a family chef cooks restaurant-quality meals for one family every day, combining professional technique with family-friendly menus. Families hiring in Chicago range from young professionals in the city centre to established households across Chicagoland Area.
Chicago is known for finance, commodities trading, logistics, and architecture, and many of the families who hire domestic staff here work for employers such as Boeing, United Airlines, McDonald's, CME Group, and Morningstar. Chicago's Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) is the world's largest futures exchange.
Main duties
- Design balanced weekly menus for adults and children
- Cook all main meals to a professional standard
- Source premium ingredients and manage suppliers
- Cater family events and holidays
- Keep kitchen records, allergens and budgets
Family Chef pay in Chicago
Household incomes in Chicago are shaped by an average local salary of around $70,000, which is why family chef pay here sits close to the USA average. Pay rises with experience, references, live-in flexibility and extra duties such as driving or cooking.
Indicative ranges for 2026 based on local salary levels and published household pay; individual offers vary.
A day as a family chef
- 7:00Breakfast service
- 9:30Shopping & prep
- 12:30Lunch
- 15:00Batch cooking
- 18:30Dinner & clean-down
Why work in Chicago?
The local job market is growing at 2.3% annually, so demand for reliable household staff keeps rising as more dual-income families move to Chicago.
Chicago is often described as “Midwest's Financial and Commercial Capital”, and its households expect a professional standard of service.
Requirements
What families ask for
- Culinary training or professional kitchen experience
- Experience in private households
- Food safety certificate
- Portfolio of menus
Working in United States
- Right to work in United States: Workers must be authorised to work in the United States, and employers complete Form I-9 to verify eligibility.
- Checks: employers usually ask for a criminal background check, identity and Social Security verification, a motor-vehicle record for driving roles and, for childcare, a sex-offender registry search.
- Minimum pay: wages must meet the federal minimum wage or the higher state and city minimum, whichever applies.
- Contract: A written work agreement covering duties, hours, pay, overtime, paid time off, termination notice and confidentiality prevents most disputes.
Live-in or live-out?
Most family chef roles in Chicago are live-out, paid by the hour and booked for regular days. Ask whether travel time between homes, evenings or weekends are paid at a higher rate.
How to get hired
- Register
Create your profile with your family chef experience, availability and references.
- Verification
Complete USA right-to-work and background checks.
- Interview & trial
Meet the family and work a short, paid trial day.
- Contract & start
Agree pay, hours and leave in writing before you start.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a family chef earn in Chicago, IL?
Family Chef jobs in Chicago, IL typically pay $28–$45 an hour (about $4,850–$7,800 a month full time). Experience, live-in arrangements, hours and extra duties move pay within this range.
Are there live-in family chef jobs in Chicago?
Both live-in and live-out positions are offered. Most family chef roles in Chicago are live-out, paid by the hour and booked for regular days.
What do I need to work as a family chef in USA?
Employers ask for culinary training or professional kitchen experience, experience in private households and a criminal background check. You must also have the right to work in United States.
What does a family chef do day to day?
A family chef cooks restaurant-quality meals for one family every day, combining professional technique with family-friendly menus. Typical duties include design balanced weekly menus for adults and children, cook all main meals to a professional standard, source premium ingredients and manage suppliers.
How do I apply for family chef jobs in Chicago on AvailJob?
Register your profile with your experience, availability and references. When a family in Chicago hires for this role, you are matched and contacted.
What hours does a family chef work?
A typical schedule is 5 days a week with flexible evenings. Hours, days off and overtime should be written into your contract.