Illinois Minimum Wage 2026
Last updated: · Source: Illinois Department of Labor
Illinois · Minimum Wage 2026
Effective 2025-01-01
Data last verified: 2026-07-09
Tipped Rate
$9.00/hr
Tip Credit
$6.00/hr
Exempt Salary
$684/wk
Effective Date
2025-01-01
Illinois Wage Calculator
Current Illinois Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in Illinois is $15.00 per hour in 2026, effective 2025-01-01. This is above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hr set by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Employers must pay the higher of the two rates, so the Illinois rate applies. See the federal minimum wage page for how the FLSA floor applies nationwide.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employers must pay the highest minimum wage that legally applies to a work location, whether set federally, by the state, or by a city or county ordinance.
Illinois Tipped Minimum Wage
In Illinois, tipped employees may be paid a direct cash wage of $9.00/hr. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $6.00/hr, but the employee's total hourly earnings (direct wages + tips) must equal at least the full minimum wage of $15.00/hr. If tips fall short, the employer must make up the difference.
| Component | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct cash wage | $9.00/hr | Minimum employer must pay directly |
| Tip credit | $6.00/hr | Maximum credit employer may claim |
| Total required | $15.00/hr | Wages + tips must reach this floor |
Illinois Exempt Employee Salary Threshold (2026)
An "exempt" employee is a salaried worker who, by law, isn't entitled to overtime pay (time-and-a-half) for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. Whether a salaried employee actually qualifies as exempt depends on both their pay and their job duties. Illinois follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. To qualify for the white-collar (executive, administrative, or professional) overtime exemption, salaried employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) in 2026.
City & County Minimum Wages in Illinois
Illinois permits cities and counties to set higher local minimum wage rates. The following cities have rates above the state minimum:
| City / County | 2026 Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $17.05/hr | Chicago sets its own minimum wage, $17.05/hr as of July 1, 2026 ($12.96/hr for tipped workers). |
| Aurora | $15.00/hr (state rate) | Follows Illinois state rate. |
| Naperville | $15.00/hr (state rate) | Follows Illinois state rate. |
| Springfield | $15.00/hr (state rate) | Follows Illinois state rate. |
Illinois Minimum Wage History
The following table shows minimum wage rates in Illinois over the past several years.
| Year | Minimum Wage | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $15.00/hr | 2025-01-01 | |
| 2024 | $14.00/hr | 2024-01-01 | |
| 2023 | $13.00/hr | 2023-01-01 | |
| 2022 | $12.00/hr | 2022-01-01 | |
| 2021 | $11.00/hr | 2021-01-01 | |
| 2020 | $10.00/hr | 2020-07-01 |
Frequently Asked Questions
The minimum wage in Illinois is $15.00 per hour in 2026, effective 2025-01-01. Tipped employees may be paid $9.00 per hour provided tips bring total earnings to at least $15.00/hr.
Illinois' statewide minimum wage holds at $15.00/hr in 2026 with no further scheduled state increases, though Chicago ($17.05/hr) and suburban Cook County ($15.40/hr) raised their own local minimum wages on July 1, 2026.
In Illinois, tipped employees must be paid at least $9.00 per hour directly. Employers may claim a tip credit of up to $6.00/hr, but total compensation including tips must reach $15.00/hr.
Illinois follows the federal FLSA salary threshold. Salaried exempt employees must earn at least $684/week ($35,568/year) to qualify for the white-collar overtime exemption in 2026.
Yes, some cities in Illinois set higher local minimum wage rates. Chicago: $17.05/hr.