Illinois Minimum Wage — As of October 2026, the minimum wage in Illinois is $15.00 per hour, unchanged since January 1, 2025, with no statewide increase scheduled. Tipped workers must receive at least $9.00 per hour in direct wages, with tips covering the rest. Chicago sets its own, higher rate — $17.05 per hour as of July 1, 2026 ($12.96 for tipped workers) — and Cook County pays $15.40, so your employer must follow the rate for where you work.
Illinois Overtime — Illinois has its own overtime law: 1.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a week, with no daily-overtime trigger. The overtime rate must be calculated from your full regular rate, including bonuses, shift differentials, and commissions — not just your base pay. A job title alone doesn’t make you exempt; your actual duties and pay level decide. Illinois also allows workers to recover damages of 5% per month on unpaid wages until they’re paid.
