Illinois minimum wage 2027: stays $15.00 an hour

Illinois minimum wage 2027: no increase scheduled in 2027: $15.00 per hour since January 1, 2025 (Illinois IDOL minimum wage FAQ; U.S. DOL state table). Verified Nov 12, 2026 on two official pages.

“Beginning January 1, 2025, the minimum wage in Illinois is $15.00 per hour for those individuals who are 18 years and older.”

Second official source: “Illinois Applicable to employers of 4 or more employees, excluding family members Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $15.00” (U.S. DOL state table).

Illinois paycheck calculator

What changes for Illinois employers in 2027

Rate in force now: Illinois' minimum wage is $15.00 per hour for employers of 4 or more employees (excluding family members), for employees 18 and older. (State Minimum Wage Laws (U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division table, updated July 1, 2026); Illinois Department of Labor, Minimum Wage/Overtime FAQ (820 ILCS 105/4); verified Sep 27, 2026).

Other Illinois minimum rates

• Tipped employees (tip credit up to 40%): “Starting January 1, 2025, tipped employees must be paid minimum wage, but an employer may take credit for the employee's tips in an amount not to exceed 40% of the wages.” (Illinois IDOL minimum wage FAQ)
• Tipped employees cash wage: “Minimum Wage Tipped Youths (Under 18) (Working Less Than 650 Hours Per Calendar Year) $15 $9 $13” (Illinois IDOL Minimum Wage Law page)
• Workers under 18 (less than 650 hours a year): “Those under 18 years of age may be paid at the rate of $13.00 per hour for less than 650 hours worked for an employer in a calendar year.” (Illinois IDOL minimum wage FAQ)
• New employees over 18 (first 90 days, non-tipped): “Employees over the age of 18, who do NOT receive tips, may be paid $14.50 for the first 90 days with employer.” (Illinois IDOL minimum wage FAQ)

How we checked that nothing changes in 2027

• The Illinois Department of Labor's Minimum Wage Law page states $15.00 and announces no later step; its rate history ends with $15.00 on 1/1/2025 and 1/1/2026 (the statute page on ilga.gov does not answer from the server and its archive copies are older than 90 days) (Illinois IDOL Minimum Wage Law page).
• The Illinois State Board of Elections list for the November 3, 2026 general election shows candidate contests only and lists no statewide ballot measure (the Illinois Secretary of State site, which publishes proposed constitutional amendments, returns 403 to the server) (Illinois SBE candidate list).

Paying the minimum wage in Illinois: paydays, final pay and breaks

• Paydays (executive administrative professional): Illinois executive, administrative and professional employees may be paid monthly. (State Payday Requirements (U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division table, January 1, 2023); Illinois Department of Labor, Wage Payment and Collection Act FAQ (820 ILCS 115/3); verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Paydays: Illinois employers must pay wages at least semi-monthly. (State Payday Requirements (U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division table, January 1, 2023); Illinois Department of Labor, Wage Payment and Collection Act FAQ (820 ILCS 115/3); verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Final pay after a firing: A separated employee must be paid final compensation in full at separation if possible, and no later than the next regularly scheduled payday. (Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, 820 ILCS 115/5 (Illinois Department of Labor FAQ); Illinois Department of Labor, Your Rights Under Illinois Employment Laws poster (2023); verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Final pay after a resignation: An employee who quits must be paid final compensation in full at separation if possible, and no later than the next regularly scheduled payday. (Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, 820 ILCS 115/5 (Illinois Department of Labor FAQ); Illinois Department of Labor, Your Rights Under Illinois Employment Laws poster (2023); verified Sep 27, 2026)
• Meal breaks: Employees who work 7.5 continuous hours or more must get a meal period of at least 20 minutes, beginning no later than 5 hours after the start of the work period, plus an additional 20-minute meal period for every additional 4.5 continuous hours worked. (Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (U.S. DOL WHD table, January 1, 2023); Illinois Department of Labor, One Day Rest In Seven Act (ODRISA), 820 ILCS 140; verified Sep 27, 2026)

Every verified rule for the state, with the law cited: Illinois employer rulebook.

Exempt salary threshold in 2027: Federal $684 a week ($35,568 a year); no higher state threshold found (U.S. DOL thresholds page; eCFR 29 CFR 541.600) Verified Oct 21, 2026

Later in 2027: Chicago, IL: Pending verification from July 1, 2027 (pending verification; chicago.gov).

Each change with its official text: Illinois rules.

Illinois minimum wage rates: now, 2027 and next

Illinois minimum wage rates by year (IDOL), as the official page lists them: “$12.00 $13.00 $14.00 $15.00 $15.00 1/1/2015 1/1/2016 1/1/2017 1/1/2018 1/1/2019 1/1/2020 7/1/2020 1/1/2021 1/1/2022 1/1/2023 1/1/2024 1/1/2025 1/1/2026” (IDOL minimum wage rate history).

2027 minimum wage: Illinois and neighboring states

Each state links to its rulebook, and to its own 2027 minimum wage page where we have one. The same rows, for every state, are in the 2027 table by state.

How to act on it

Full-time pay at the rate in 2027 (computed: hourly rate × 40 hours a week and × 2,080 hours a year, before taxes): $15.00 = $600.00 a week, $31,200 a year.

Questions about the Illinois minimum wage in 2027

Sources (19)

• Illinois IDOL minimum wage FAQ
• U.S. DOL state table
• chicago.gov
• U.S. DOL thresholds page
• eCFR 29 CFR 541.600
• Illinois IDOL Minimum Wage Law page
• Illinois SBE candidate list
• State Payday Requirements (U.S. DOL Wage and Hour Division table, January 1, 2023)
• Illinois Department of Labor, Wage Payment and Collection Act FAQ (820 ILCS 115/3)
• Illinois Department of Labor, Your Rights Under Illinois Employment Laws poster (2023)
• Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (U.S. DOL WHD table, January 1, 2023)
• Illinois Department of Labor, One Day Rest In Seven Act (ODRISA), 820 ILCS 140
• U.S. DOL minimum wage page
• 29 U.S.C. §206 (govinfo)
• IDOL minimum wage rate history
• Wisconsin DWD poster ERD-9247-P
• Iowa Code § 91D.1 (Iowa Legislature)
• RSMo 290.502 (MO Revisor)
• Indiana DOL minimum wage poster

Checked Nov 12, 2026 · How we verify every rule · Report an error

Where this goes next

StateIllinois employer rulebookAll 51 statesMinimum wage by state 20272027Every Illinois change in 2027ToolIllinois paycheck calculator