Chicago Minimum Wage (2026)
Built & reviewed by Nandu Kannan · Overtime rules cited to primary statutes
Chicago's minimum wage is $17.05 an hour in 2026, effective July 1, 2026 — $2.05 above Illinois's $15.00 state minimum. Applies to all employers with 4 or more employees (large and small are now unified). Tipped workers get $12.96. Adjusts each July 1.
Chicago minimum-wage pay calculator
Pre-set to Chicago's $17.05 minimum. Change the hours, add overtime, and see weekly, monthly and annual gross pay update instantly.
Gross pay before taxes, at Chicago's minimum wage. Overtime at 1.5× the regular rate (federal FLSA); some states add daily overtime — see the state overtime calculator. Not payroll advice.
Chicago vs. Illinois vs. federal minimum wage
Chicago's local minimum of $17.05 is $2.05 above Illinois's $15.00 and $9.80 above the federal $7.25. When city, state and federal minimum wages differ, employers must pay whichever is highest — so workers in Chicago are entitled to the $17.05 local rate.
Minimum-wage pay & overtime in Chicago
At $17.05 an hour, overtime (1.5×) is $25.58 per hour. Run your own numbers with the Illinois overtime calculator, see take-home pay with the Illinois paycheck calculator, or convert it to a yearly figure with the salary to hourly calculator.
Employer size & coverage
Applies to all employers with 4 or more employees (large and small are now unified). Tipped workers get $12.96. Adjusts each July 1.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in Chicago in 2026?
The minimum wage in Chicago is $17.05 per hour in 2026, effective July 1, 2026. Applies to all employers with 4 or more employees (large and small are now unified). Tipped workers get $12.96. Adjusts each July 1.
How much is Chicago's minimum wage per year?
At $17.05 an hour, full-time (40 hours a week, 52 weeks) is about $35,464 a year before taxes, or $682 a week.
Is Chicago's minimum wage higher than Illinois's?
Yes. Chicago's $17.05 is $2.05 above Illinois's $15.00 minimum. When a city sets a higher local minimum wage, employers in that city must pay the higher local rate.
What is overtime pay on Chicago's minimum wage?
Overtime is 1.5× your regular rate, so a minimum-wage worker in Chicago at $17.05 earns $25.58 per overtime hour.
What is the tipped minimum wage in Chicago?
Chicago's tipped minimum is $12.96 for employers with 4+ employees; tips must reach the full $17.05.
Chicago rate effective July 1, 2026, as of June 2026. Source: City of Chicago; GovDocs 2026 — official Chicago minimum-wage page, cross-checked against the UC Berkeley Labor Center inventory of local minimum-wage ordinances. Local minimum wages change, can adjust mid-year, and vary by employer size and industry — verify the current figure with your city before relying on it. General information, not legal or payroll advice.
Related
Illinois minimum wage · Cities with their own minimum wage · Minimum wage by state · Illinois paycheck · Salary to Hourly
Other cities with their own minimum wage
New York City — $17.00 · Boulder — $16.82 · Portland — $16.75 · Minneapolis — $16.37