United States · Illinois · Minimum wage
Illinois minimum wage 2027.
The Illinois minimum wage for 2027, whether it changes from 2026, and what it pays by the week, month and year.
Short answer: Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour for workers 18 and older, according to the Illinois Department of Labor, and no change for 2027 is published as of November 9, 2026. Employers where tips are customary may pay 60 percent of the minimum, a $9.00 cash wage, and youths under 18 working fewer than 650 hours a year may be paid $13.00. The U.S. Department of Labor state table updated November 5, 2026 lists the same $15.00.
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Tipped worker top-up
The Illinois minimum wage in 2027
The Illinois Department of Labor's Minimum Wage Law page states that the law guarantees a minimum wage of $15.00 an hour for workers 18 years of age and older, with overtime after 40 hours a week at one and one-half times the regular rate. It lists three rates side by side, and the U.S. Department of Labor's state tables agree on the basic and tipped figures.
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Workers 18 and older | $15.00 | $15.00 (no change published) |
| Tipped employees (cash wage, 60%) | $9.00 | $9.00 |
| Tip credit | $6.00 (40%) | $6.00 |
| Youths under 18 working under 650 hours a year | $13.00 | $13.00 |
What changed from 2026
Nothing is published for 2027. The IDOL page lists $15.00 with no scheduled step, and the U.S. DOL table, updated November 5, 2026, shows $15.00 for Illinois for employers of 4 or more employees, excluding family members. If the figure changes, the department's page will show it first, so check it before you set 2027 pay.
Who is covered and what the tipped rate means
The DOL state table applies the Illinois rate to employers of 4 or more employees, excluding family members. Employers may apply to the department for licenses to pay sub-minimum rates to learners and certain workers with physical and mental limitations; the department says it will stop issuing and recognizing licenses for disabled workers on December 31, 2029. For tipped employees, the DOL tipped table lists a $9.00 minimum cash wage with a $6.00 tip credit, so tips must bring the total to at least $15.00 an hour.
Worked example (2027)
A full-time worker at the Illinois minimum of $15.00 an hour, 40 hours a week, earns $600.00 a week, $1,200.00 every two weeks, $2,600.00 a month and $31,200.00 a year (2,080 hours) before tax. Part-time at 25 hours a week is $375.00 a week and $19,500.00 a year. For a tipped worker the direct cash wage is $9.00. With 30 hours a week and tips averaging $4.00 an hour, pay is $13.00 an hour against $15.00, so the employer owes a top-up of $2.00 an hour, $60.00 for the week. A 17-year-old working under 650 hours a year at $13.00 earns $27,040.00 over 2,080 hours, $4,160.00 less than the adult rate.
Common mix-ups
- $15.00 is for workers 18 and older. Youths under 18 who work fewer than 650 hours a calendar year can be paid $13.00.
- The tipped wage is not a separate lower minimum. It is the cash wage: if tips do not bring the total to $15.00 an hour, the employer must make up the difference.
- No 2027 increase is published. Illinois is not listed with a 2027 change; do not use rates from other states with inflation adjustments.
- Local minimums can be higher. Some cities and counties set their own rates; check the place where the work is done.
- The 60 percent figure applies to employers where gratuities are paid. The IDOL page says an employer where gratuities are paid may pay 60 percent of the minimum wage.
Method
The converter multiplies the hourly rate by your hours per week for weekly pay, doubles it for two weeks, multiplies by 52 weeks (2,080 hours at 40 a week) for annual pay and divides the annual figure by 12 for a month. It is gross pay before tax. The tipped-worker check adds the $9.00 cash wage and your average tips per hour and compares the total with $15.00. If it falls short, the shortfall times your hours is the weekly top-up. Figures were read from the sources below on November 9, 2026.
What this does not cover
- Overtime and unpaid time off, which follow separate rules.
- Local minimum wages higher than the state rate.
- Sub-minimum wage licenses and trainee rules beyond those named on the page.
- Taxes and deductions: pay here is gross pay before tax.
Figures read from the sources below on November 9, 2026. Last updated November 9, 2026.
Sources
- Illinois Department of Labor: Minimum Wage Law (retrieved November 9, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: State Minimum Wage Laws (updated November 5, 2026) (retrieved November 9, 2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (retrieved November 9, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Illinois in 2027?
Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00 an hour for workers 18 and older, according to the Illinois Department of Labor. No 2027 change is published as of November 9, 2026.
What is the Illinois tipped minimum wage?
$9.00 an hour in cash wage, 60 percent of the minimum, with tips bringing the total to at least $15.00.
What is the Illinois youth minimum wage?
$13.00 an hour for workers under 18 who work fewer than 650 hours in a calendar year.
Will Illinois's minimum wage go up in 2027?
No increase is listed on the Illinois Department of Labor page or the U.S. DOL state table as of November 9, 2026.
How much is $15.00 an hour a year?
At 40 hours a week for 52 weeks it is $31,200.00 before tax, or $600.00 a week.
Does the Illinois rate apply to every employer?
The U.S. DOL table applies it to employers of 4 or more employees, excluding family members.
Where is the official notice?
The Illinois Department of Labor Minimum Wage Law page, linked in the sources section.
Not legal advice
This page is general information from an unofficial guide, not legal, payroll or tax advice. Wage laws change and exemptions apply to some workers. Confirm the rate with the state labor agency before you set pay. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.