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Minimum Wage in Illinois



Guide to the Minimum Wage in Illinois

If you are a wage earning employee in Illinois, there are minimums to what your employer can pay you that are set by both the federal and state government.  minimum wage in IL is actually significantly different from the federal minimum wage.  This guide will teach you about the current minimum wage in Illinois, as well as what types of employees are exempt from normal minimum wage requirements.  You will also learn about a proposal currently going through the legislature that would raise the minimum wage in IL to the highest rate in the nation.

Normal Minimum Wage in Illinois

Employers in the state of Illinois are required to pay a minimum wage that is higher than the federal rate.  Currently, the minimum wage in IL is $8.25 an hour, a full dollar higher than employers are required to pay by federal law.  Tipped employees, who can be paid a significantly lower wage under federal minimum wage laws, must be paid full minimum wage in Illinois.  However, employers are allowed to take a credit for employee wages of up to 40% of the minimum wage in IL.

All employees, including those making minimum wage in Illinois, must be paid time and a half for hours worked in excess of 40 per week.  This means that a worker earning minimum wage in IL will receive $12.38 per hour for overtime hours.

Exceptions to the Minimum Wage in Illinois

The vast majority of workers are entitled to the full minimum wage in IL.  If a worker is under 18 years old, however, employers can pay 50 cents less than the minimum wage in Illinois.  Another exception applies to employers who employ people with significant physical and mental disabilities.  These employers may be able to apply to the state for a license to pay less than the minimum wage in IL to these employees under certain conditions.  Employers may also seek a permit to pay those learning a job less than the minimum wage in Illinois.

If you are not receiving pay that is at or above the minimum wage in IL, your employer may be violating the law.  Talking to an employment attorney who has experience with minimum wage employees may be helpful.  In many cases, you may be able to find you an attorney who can seek back wages to increase your pay to the minimum wage in Illinois.  These attorneys will often work on contingency, only charging a percentage of your winnings rather than an upfront fee, so that you can afford to sue.

Proposed Increase to the Minimum Wage in Illinois

A proposal is currently going to the Illinois state legislature that would raise the minimum wage in IL with inflation.  The law sets the minimum wage in Illinois to an amount that is the same as the inflation-adjusted minimum wage in 1968.  After 50 cent increases through 2015 to bring the minimum wage to $10.50 an hour, the minimum wage will continue to increase annually with inflation.

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