Hourly Minimum Wage in Illinois

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The state-wide minimum wage for Illinois is $13.00 per hour as of January 01, 2023.

View all Illinois minimum wage values

Hourly Minimum Wage for Illinois and neighboring states in 2023

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Illinois minimum wage rate is $13.00 per hour in 2023. Workers receive a higher minimum wage in Illinois that exceeds the Federal Minimum Wage of $7.25. The Illinois minimum wage applies to most employees, with limited exceptions, including certain tipped employees, students or part-time workers, and other exempt occupations. The top 5 minimum wage states in the U.S. are District of Columbia, Washington, California, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour and has not increased since 2009. Demand for a living wage that is fair to workers is rising. In response to this rising demand, numerous states, cities, and other localities have already enacted or will change minimum wage levels. In the few states with no established minimum wage, the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour will continue to apply.
Based on local legislation, many states have already enacted minimum wage increases or approved increases due for implementation at a future date.
These ever-changing laws, effective dates, and methodologies result in minimum wages that may change at different times or differ dramatically within a state or region. Minimum wage changes can be triggered for a location when these pre-determined conditions change and require careful monitoring to ensure compliance to the latest wage levels.
Salary.com continuously tracks all these complex changes. We can help to keep you informed about future changes and stay up to date on the latest minimum wage levels in your essential locations. Show me more data to view U.S. state minimum wages for future years.

Browse Minimum Wage by Year, and Forecast Minimum Wage Increase Trends in Illinois

The minimum wages in some states are higher than the federal minimum wage in 2023, including District of Columbia, Washington, California, Connecticut, and others. Many of the minimum wage increases were effective on January 01, 2023. Some states have effective dates occurring at different months of the year. Check the chart to stay up to date on the hourly minimum wage in Illinois.
View upcoming minimum wage changes to be on top of future changes to the minimum wage in your location.
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Hourly Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees in Illinois

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The tipped minimum wage is the lowest amount employers can pay an employee in occupations such as a bartender or server, that regularly receive more than $30 a month in tips. In some states, the tipped minimum wage may be lower than the non-tipped minimum wage because employers can claim a tip credit.
It is important to note that the tipped minimum wage can vary depending on where your business is and the size of the business. In some states, the tipped minimum wage is equal to the overall minimum wage for that state. In some locations, the federal tipped minimum wage applies. In other locations, the state-tipped minimum wage is set above the federal minimum. Tipped minimum wages may vary from state to state and can be frequently adjusted, making it essential to stay informed about the latest wage levels.
In Illinois, the tipped minimum wage is the same as the state minimum wage. It may be subject to adjustment based on other criteria, such as the size of the business.
See tipped data learn more about tipped and non-tipped minimum wage in Illinois.

Detailed Minimum Wage Data in Illinois

Certain cities, counties, municipalities, or economic zones may have different minimum wage levels in Illinois. Depending on the state, additional rules and factors may determine the minimum wage levels for a particular occupation or type of business.
The Illinois minimum wage is higher than the federal minimum wage in 2023. According to our location-specific minimum wage data in Illinois, many cities in CA have a minimum wage above the state minimum. Many California localities (city and county) have their own minimum wages. It could be higher or lower than the state level based on the cost of living, salary, job opportunities, and other factors.
Get city level data in your location to get pay right.

What is the minimum wage in Illinois in 2023?

Illinois minimum wage in 2021: US$11 (effective January 1, 2021)

Illinois minimum wage in 2020: US$10

Illinois minimum wage in 2000: US$5.15 ($7.93 after inflation adjustment)

Illinois minimum wage in 1980: US$2.30 ($7.71 after inflation adjustment)

People's Opinions on Minimum Wage in Illinois

However, according to the Illinois minimum wage law, if your under-18 employee works more than 650 hours in a calendar year, they must be paid at the same rate as an employee who is 18 or over.

09/24/2021

An individual may only be deemed a learner and paid less than the standard minimum wage for up to six months, except when the Illinois Department of Labor determines a longer period is necessary.

09/21/2021

Illinois supports a number of exemptions to the minimum wage besides the two mentioned above, such as special exemptions for disabled workers employed in sheltered workshop environments.

09/09/2021

However, an employer, if licensed from the Illinois Department of Labor, may pay an employee with disabilities a subminimum wage rate based on the individual employee’s earning or productive capacity.

08/28/2021

In addition to any Illinois-specific minimum wage exemptions described above, the Federal Fair Labor Standards act defines special minimum wage rates applicable to certain types of workers.

08/15/2021

Under Illinois law, if an employee's wages plus tips do not equal at least the number of hours worked times the applicable minimum wage, his or her employer must make up the difference.

08/09/2021

Cook County’s minimum wage is based on the greatest rate among the Federal minimum wage, Illinois State minimum wage, or on the County’s calculation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

08/06/2021

Cook County's minimum wage is based on the greatest rate among the Federal minimum wage, Illinois State minimum wage, or on the County's calculation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

07/30/2021

Cook County’s minimum wage is based on the greatest rate among the Federal minimum wage, Illinois State minimum wage, or on the County’s calculation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

07/15/2021

He agrees with Mark Grant, the Illinois state director for the National Federation of Independent Businesses, that the minimum wage is supposed to be an entry level wage and not a living wage.

07/02/2021

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Minimum Wage by State in 2023