Current minimum wage in Illinois
Illinois reached a $15.00 statewide minimum wage on January 1, 2025, the last step of a 2019 law. Tipped workers earn at least $9.00 an hour in cash wages, and Chicago and Cook County set higher local minimums.
The rate rose from $14.00 (effective January 1, 2024) to $15.00 on January 1, 2025, an increase of $1.00 an hour or $2,080 a year for a full-time worker.
Next scheduled change
No further increase is scheduled under current state law.
Tipped minimum wage
Employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $9.00 an hour and count tips toward the rest, as long as total pay reaches $15.00 an hour. The federal tipped cash wage is $2.13. Tipped workers must be paid at least 60 percent of the minimum wage, or $9.00 an hour, with tips making up the rest.
What minimum wage pays in Illinois
| Hours per week | Weekly pay | Yearly pay |
|---|---|---|
| 20 hours | $300.00 | $15,600 |
| 25 hours | $375.00 | $19,500 |
| 30 hours | $450.00 | $23,400 |
| 35 hours | $525.00 | $27,300 |
| 40 hours | $600.00 | $31,200 |
After federal and Illinois taxes, a full-time minimum wage worker who files single keeps about $25,850 a year, or $994 per biweekly check. Run your own numbers with the Illinois paycheck calculator or see the full breakdown for $15 an hour.
Overtime rules
Follows the federal 40-hour weekly overtime rule.
City and county minimum wages
Chicago and Cook County set higher local minimum wages, though some Cook County suburbs have opted out.
Exceptions and special rates
Workers under 18 who work fewer than 650 hours a year may be paid $13.00 an hour, and the state minimum applies to employers with 4 or more employees.
How Illinois compares
Illinois ranks #13 of 51 for its minimum wage, tied with 6 other states at the same rate. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Illinois in 2026?
The Illinois minimum wage is $15.00 an hour as of January 1, 2025.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Illinois?
Employers in Illinois may pay tipped workers a cash wage of $9.00 an hour, as long as tips bring total pay to at least $15.00. Tipped workers must be paid at least 60 percent of the minimum wage, or $9.00 an hour, with tips making up the rest.
When does the Illinois minimum wage go up next?
No further increase is scheduled under current state law.
How much is minimum wage in Illinois per year?
At $15.00 an hour, a 40-hour week pays $600 and a full year pays $31,200 before taxes. A single filer keeps about $25,850 after federal and Illinois taxes.
How does overtime work in Illinois?
Follows the federal 40-hour weekly overtime rule.