2021 Illinois Minimum Wage
The 2021 Illinois Minimum Wage is $11.
Effective 2021-01-01Source: Illinois Department of Labor Issues Minimum Wage Hike Reminder (Illinois Department of Labor)Verified 2026-09-01
Who it applies to
All employers in the state of Illinois
What changed this year, and why
The minimum wage in Illinois increased to $11 per hour on January 1, 2021. This is part of a phased plan to gradually increase the minimum wage over several years.
Common questions
- What is the minimum wage in Illinois for 2021?
- The minimum wage in Illinois was $11 per hour beginning January 1, 2021.
Minors, students and training wages: who may be paid less than the rate on this page
Illinois law allows employers to pay a lower minimum wage to workers who are under 18 years old and work fewer than 650 hours in a year. In 2021, that youth minimum wage rate is $8.50 per hour. This special wage applies only when both conditions are met: the worker must be under the age of 18, and the worker must work fewer than 650 hours during the calendar year. If a minor reaches 650 hours of work in the year, the employer must pay at least the standard minimum wage going forward for the remainder of that year. The youth minimum wage rate is scheduled to increase gradually each year in step with the general minimum wage, eventually reaching parity with it. Employers must track hours carefully for workers under 18 to ensure they apply the correct wage rate as hours accumulate during the year.
Workers who are under 18 years old and work fewer than 650 hours in a year will earn a minimum wage of $8.50 per hour beginning January 1.
Illinois Department of Labor Issues Minimum Wage Hike Reminder (Illinois Department of Labor)
When a city or county sets a higher minimum wage
In Illinois, Cook County and the city of Chicago set their own minimum wage floors that are above the statewide $11 rate. Cook County's floor is $13 an hour, while Chicago charges $13.50 an hour at small employers (4 to 20 employees) and $14 an hour at large employers (21 or more employees). Where a local government has acted this way, an employer in that jurisdiction must pay whichever rate is higher — the state figure or the local one — so workers there receive the greater of the two. Employers should check both the Illinois Department of Labor's statewide rate and any ordinance that applies in their county or municipality, because the local floor can change on its own schedule and can exceed the state figure by several dollars per hour.
Cook County has a higher minimum wage than the state, currently $13 an hour. The current city of Chicago minimum wage is $13.50 an hour for small employers (4 to 20 employees) and $14 an hour for large employers (21 or more employees).
Illinois Department of Labor Issues Minimum Wage Hike Reminder (Illinois Department of Labor)
Who to ask about this rate, and where to take a wage complaint
Employees in Illinois who believe they are not being paid the correct minimum wage can file a minimum wage complaint with IDOL, the Illinois Department of Labor. A complaint may be submitted online through the department's website or by calling 312-793-2800. IDOL is the state agency responsible for enforcing Illinois minimum wage and other labor laws. Workers should contact IDOL if they have problems regarding the minimum wage, such as being paid below the required hourly rate of $11 an hour or not receiving proper tip credits. The department will review the complaint and may investigate the employer's wage practices. Employers are also required to post the "Your Rights Under Illinois Employment Laws" poster in a conspicuous location on the premises, which covers the minimum wage and other Illinois labor laws.
Employees with problems regarding the minimum wage can file a complaint with IDOL at the following link: https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/Pages/Complaints.aspx or call 312-793-2800.
Illinois Department of Labor Issues Minimum Wage Hike Reminder (Illinois Department of Labor)
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.
Illinois Department of Labor Issues Minimum Wage Hike Reminder (Illinois Department of Labor)
- Hourly
Illinois' minimum wage is set to increase to $11 an hour on Friday, January 1, 2021.
Other years
Every Illinois Minimum Wage year · Minimum Wage in every state