Illinois Minimum Wage Calculator 2026

Illinois pays a statewide minimum wage of $15 per hour, more than twice the $7.25 federal floor that still governs states without a higher standard of their own. That $15 was the final rung of a multi-year schedule that raised the wage in steps. Federal law requires employers to pay whichever rate is highest among the federal, state, and local figures, so virtually every covered Illinois worker is entitled to at least $15. The Illinois Department of Labor enforces the standard and processes wage-claim complaints when a worker is shorted.

Tipped employees fall under a separate arrangement. Illinois allows a tip credit, so an employer may pay a cash wage as low as $9 per hour as long as tips lift the worker to the full $15 minimum for the period; if tips come up short, the employer must cover the difference. Coverage is wide but not absolute. Some workers, such as certain youth under 18 on limited hours, may receive a lower training rate, and independent contractors aren't covered at all. Local rules can raise the bar further: Chicago and Cook County have set minimums above the state figure, so the wage owed can depend on where the work is performed.