Minimum wage in Chicago, Illinois in 2026
The minimum wage in Chicago is $17.05 an hour, $2.05 more than the Illinois minimum wage of $15.00. The next rate has not been announced yet.
Checked against official sources.
Chicago minimum wage at a glance
- An hour
- $17.05
- A week, 40 hours
- $682.00
- A year, 2,080 hours
- $35,464
That is $82.00 more a week and $4,264 more a year than the Illinois minimum wage of $15.00, for someone working full time.
Who it covers
Employers with 4 or more workers, for anyone who works at least 2 hours in Chicago in a two-week period. Domestic workers are covered whatever the employer's size.
- Subsidized youth and transitional employment programs: $17.05 an hour. Since July 1, 2026, these programs pay the full minimum wage for the first time
Tipped workers
Employers in Chicago can pay tipped workers as little as $12.96 an hour in cash, counting up to $4.09 an hour in tips, as long as tips bring them up to $17.05. A 2026 ordinance freezes the tip credit at 24% until July 1, 2028. Tipped workers then reach the full rate on July 1, 2030 at employers with 21 or more workers, and July 1, 2033 at smaller ones.
Chicago minimum wage over time
| Starting | Rate |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2023 | $15.80 |
| July 1, 2024 | $16.20 |
| July 1, 2025 | $16.60 |
| July 1, 2026 | $17.05now |
Chicago raises the rate every July 1 by inflation, up to 2.5%.
Other local minimum wages in Illinois
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the official pages below. Checked .
- Minimum Wage, City of Chicago, Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
- Minimum wage increase and workers' rights ordinances, City of Chicago, Mayor's Press Office, updated
- 2026 Chicago labor laws public notice, City of Chicago, Office of Labor Standards
- 2026 minimum wage flyer, City of Chicago, Office of Labor Standards
- Minimum Wage Law, Illinois Department of Labor
Laws change. If your pay is below these rates, contact your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243.