Illinois Minimum Wage 2026
Current year
The 2026 Illinois Minimum Wage is $15.
Effective 2026-01-01Source: State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)Verified 2026-08-29
Compared with 2025
Every figure on this page is unchanged from 2025.
| Item | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $15 | $15 | +$0 (+0.0%) |
Who it applies to
Employers in Illinois of four or more employees, excluding family members, which is the coverage line the Department of Labor's table puts above the Illinois rate. The same entry lists premium pay after a designated number of weekly hours as a requirement separate from the hourly minimum.
What changed this year, and why
The U.S. Department of Labor's table of state minimum wage laws, updated July 1, 2026, lists Illinois's basic minimum rate as $15.00 per hour, under a coverage line that reads applicable to employers of four or more employees, excluding family members. The Illinois entry records no later step inside the year, and no earlier year of this record is published here, so this page states no year-over-year change.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Illinois in 2026?
- It is $15.00 per hour. That is the basic minimum rate the U.S. Department of Labor lists for Illinois in its State Minimum Wage Laws table, in the version updated July 1, 2026. The figure published here comes from that entry alone, so it reflects the state rate as the department recorded it on that date.
- Which Illinois employers have to pay the state minimum wage?
- The department's Illinois entry opens with a coverage line: applicable to employers of four or more employees, excluding family members. That line sits directly above the basic minimum rate, so it governs the rate published here. The same entry also lists premium pay after a designated number of weekly hours, which is a separate requirement from the hourly minimum.
- Do family members count toward the Illinois employee threshold?
- The coverage line in the Department of Labor's table reads applicable to employers of four or more employees, excluding family members, so family members are excluded from that reckoning. The table does not go further than that phrase, and it does not reproduce whatever definitions or additional exemptions the underlying Illinois statute uses.
- Does the Illinois minimum wage change again during 2026?
- The Department of Labor's table lists no scheduled change for Illinois. Its Illinois entry gives a single basic minimum rate with no dated step attached, unlike the entries the department dates for some other states. An increase taking effect after the table's July 1, 2026 update would not appear here until the department republishes the table and this record is verified against it again.
- Is the Illinois minimum wage indexed to inflation?
- The same table states an annual adjustment formula inside the entry for several states. The Illinois entry contains no such statement. This page therefore publishes the rate the table listed as of July 1, 2026 and makes no claim about whether or how the rate is recalculated, because the source document does not describe a method.
- Is the Illinois minimum wage higher than the federal minimum wage?
- Yes. The same Department of Labor table cites the current federal minimum wage in its entries for states with no minimum wage law of their own, and the Illinois basic minimum rate is above that amount. The Illinois entry carries no clause adopting the federal rate by reference or substituting it when the federal rate is higher, which several other states' entries do carry.
- Does the table show a tipped, youth or local minimum wage for Illinois?
- No. The department's state table lists one basic minimum rate per hour for Illinois and no separate cash wage for tipped employees. It also states that differential provisions are not displayed in it, naming subminimum rates for minors and students, training wages for new hires, and local government rates set higher than the state minimum as the examples.
- Where does the $15.00 figure on this page come from?
- From the Wage and Hour Division's State Minimum Wage Laws table at dol.gov, in the snapshot captured for this record, where the Illinois entry gives the basic minimum rate per hour as $15.00 beneath its coverage line. The division notes on that page that it tries to keep the information accurate and that individuals should consult the relevant state labor office for official information.
Every amount on this page is a published figure rather than yours. The Minimum wage pay calculator takes the number you enter and works it out against them, showing which published figure it used.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Certain categories of workers may receive less than the standard minimum wage under specific circumstances. Minors, students, and new hires may qualify for subminimum rates or training wages depending on state regulations. Some states also exempt these worker categories entirely from minimum wage coverage. These special wage provisions vary significantly by jurisdiction and are not displayed in the standard federal or state minimum wage tables. Employers must verify whether their state allows reduced rates for these worker groups and under what conditions. The $15 hourly rate shown on this page applies to covered employees who do not qualify for these special exemptions or reduced rates.
Some states set subminimum rates for minors and/or students or exempt them from coverage or have a training wage for new hires.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
When a city or county sets a higher minimum wage
Cities, counties, and other local jurisdictions may establish minimum wage rates that exceed their state's minimum wage. When local governments set higher rates, employers must pay the greater amount. These local wage floors are not displayed in standard state and federal minimum wage tables, so workers and employers need to check with their local government offices to determine the applicable rate. The $15 hourly rate shown on this page represents the standard minimum, but local ordinances may require payment of a higher amount.
Some local governments set minimum wage rates higher than their respective state minimum wage.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
Overtime is paid at one and one-half times the regular rate
Employees who work overtime must receive premium pay calculated as a multiple of their regular hourly rate. The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified. This means that for every hour worked beyond the designated weekly threshold, the employee earns significantly more than their standard hourly wage. For example, if a worker earns the $15 minimum wage, their overtime pay would be substantially higher per hour. The premium applies to each overtime hour, not just to total weekly pay. Some state laws may establish different overtime thresholds or calculation methods, but the federal standard requires the one-and-one-half multiplier. Employers who fail to pay the correct overtime premium violate federal wage law. The footnote clarifying this rate applies to the overtime provisions noted in the state table displayed on the page.
The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
Workers with questions about minimum wage rates or who need to file a wage complaint should consult the relevant state labor office for official information. While the Wage and Hour Division tries to ensure that the information on this page is accurate, state labor offices maintain the authoritative records of applicable wage rates, exemptions, and overtime requirements. These offices can provide guidance on whether an employer is subject to federal or state minimum wage laws, verify the correct rate for specific worker categories, and accept formal complaints about wage violations. Contact information for state labor offices is available through state government websites.
individuals should consult the relevant state labor office for official information.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
How each figure was verified
Each number below was read from a stored copy of the document named beside it, and checked to occur word for word in the quoted sentence. The digest is of that stored text.
State Minimum Wage Laws (DOL)
- Hourly
Illinois Applicable to employers of 4 or more employees, excluding family members Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $15.00
By year
Every published year
6 years on record, 2026 back to 2021. Each year links to its own page, its own document and its own verification date.