Illinois minimum wage in 2026
Illinois employers must pay adult workers at least $15.00 an hour in 2026, the same rate that began on January 1, 2025[idol]. The state law covers employers with four or more employees, not counting family members. The U.S. Department of Labor's November 5, 2026 table lists $15.00 with no scheduled change[dol1].
| Year | Hourly minimum | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $11.00 | US DOL history table |
| 2022 | $12.00 | US DOL history table |
| 2023 | $13.00 | US DOL history table |
| 2024 | $14.00 | US DOL history table |
| 2025 | $15.00 | Illinois Department of Labor |
| 2026 | $15.00 | US DOL state table |
The steady $1.00-a-year climb from 2021 to 2025 is visible in the Labor Department's history table[dol3]. Since the 2025 step, the statewide figure has stayed at $15.00.
Youth, tipped and training wages in Illinois
Illinois allows three lower rates, each with conditions, according to the state Department of Labor[idol]:
| Who | Minimum | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Workers under 18 | $13.00 | Until they work 650 hours for the employer in a calendar year; then $15.00 |
| Tipped employees | $9.00 cash wage | Employer claims a tip credit of up to 40%; tips must cover the rest |
| New non-tipped employees 18+ | $14.50 | Training wage for the first 90 days |
| New tipped employees 18+ | $9.00 | First 90 days, if the tip credit is used |
The 40% tip credit works out to $6.00 on a $15.00 rate, which is how the Labor Department arrives at a $9.00 cash wage[dol2]. Once the 90-day training period ends, a non-tipped employee must get at least $15.00 an hour. Overtime is time and a half for hours over 40 in a workweek, or $22.50 an hour at the state minimum[idol].
Chicago minimum wage from July 1, 2026
Chicago's minimum wage is $17.05 an hour from July 1, 2026 for employers with four or more employees, and $12.96 for tipped workers[chi]. The city raises its rate every July 1 by the change in the Consumer Price Index or 2.5%, whichever is lower[chirel].
- Tipped workers: the $12.96 subminimum is frozen until the next scheduled increase on July 1, 2028 under the One Fair Wage Compromise Ordinance. If wages plus tips fall short of $17.05, the employer pays the difference[chirel][chi].
- Youth and subsidized programs: subsidized youth and transitional employment programs now get the full $17.05, the first time that rate has caught up with the general minimum[chirel].
- City contracts: workers under city contracts and concessionaire agreements get at least $18.50 from July 1, 2026[chi].
Employers must give Chicago workers a notice of these rights with the first paycheck and once a year with a paycheck issued within 30 days of July 1[chi].
Will the Illinois minimum wage go up in 2027?
No statewide increase is listed for 2027. The Labor Department's state table shows Illinois at $15.00 with no future change noted[dol1], and the state Department of Labor's FAQ lists no rate beyond the 2025 figure[idol]. Chicago is different: its rate adjusts again on July 1, 2027 under the CPI-or-2.5% rule, and the city has not yet announced that figure[chirel].
Full-time pay at the state rate is $31,200 a year before tax; in Chicago at $17.05 it is $35,464. On the calculator's 2026 settings, a single filer keeps about $25,850 at $15.00 and $29,065 at $17.05.
Illinois minimum wage after taxes
A full-time job at $15.00 an hour is $31,200 a year before tax (2,080 hours). After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Illinois withholding, a single worker keeps about $25,850, or $994.22 every two weeks. Change hours, overtime or W-4 details in the calculator below; for other pay levels use the Illinois paycheck calculator.
| Hours a week | Weekly gross | Yearly gross | Yearly take-home | Take-home per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | $300.00 | $15,600 | $13,779 | $13.25 |
| 30 | $450.00 | $23,400 | $19,866 | $12.73 |
| 40 | $600.00 | $31,200 | $25,850 | $12.43 |
Take-home at minimum wage
Illinois minimum wage paycheck
Preset to $15.00 an hour, 40 hours a week, paid every two weeks.
Take-home pay$994.22every two weeks · $25,850 a year
| Item | Per paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings | ||
| Gross pay | $1,200.00 | $31,200.00 |
| Taxes | ||
| Federal income tax | −$60.15 | −$1,564.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$74.40 | −$1,934.40 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$17.40 | −$452.40 |
| Illinois income tax (4.95%) | −$53.83 | −$1,399.58 |
| Total taxes | −$205.78 | −$5,350.38 |
| Net pay | $994.22 | $25,849.62 |
Taxes take 17.1% of gross pay in Illinois. Your top federal withholding bracket is 12%.
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Related pay tools
Overtime at the minimum wage is $22.50 an hour (time and a half): see the time and a half calculator. Add up shifts with the time card calculator, and compare states with the state tax calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Illinois minimum wage in 2026?
$15.00 an hour for workers 18 and older, unchanged from January 1, 2025. Workers under 18 can be paid $13.00 until they reach 650 hours with an employer in a calendar year.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Illinois?
$9.00 an hour. Employers can take a tip credit of up to 40% of the $15.00 minimum, but wages plus tips must still reach $15.00.
What is the minimum wage in Chicago?
$17.05 an hour from July 1, 2026 for employers with four or more employees, and $12.96 for tipped workers. The rate changes every July 1.
How much is $15 an hour a year after taxes in Illinois?
Full time is $31,200 a year before tax. A single filer with a standard 2026 W-4 keeps about $25,850 after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Illinois withholding.
Sources
- Minimum Wage/Overtime FAQ
- Minimum Wage
- Mayor Brandon Johnson Advances Chicago's Labor Standards with Minimum Wage Increase and Strengthened Worker's Rights Ordinances
- State Minimum Wage Laws
- Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees
- Changes in Basic Minimum Wages in Non-Farm Employment Under State Law, 1968 to 2024
- Overtime Pay (Fair Labor Standards Act)