# Illinois tipped minimum wage 2026

In Illinois the minimum wage is $15.00 an hour, and an employer can pay a tipped employee a cash wage as low as $9.00, counting up to $6.00 an hour of tips toward the rest. If tips fall short in a workweek, the employer pays the difference.

Check your own week with the free [calculator on this page](https://rulecost.com/paycheck/tipped-minimum-wage/illinois/), prefilled with Illinois's rates.

- Minimum wage: $15.00 / hour
- Lowest cash wage for tipped employees: $9.00 / hour
- Maximum tip credit: $6.00 / hour

Chicago sets a higher local minimum wage and is phasing out its tip credit.

## 2027

No 2027 change to Illinois's minimum wage or tipped wage had been announced when we checked on October 13, 2026.

## Not paid the minimum wage?

The U.S. Department of Labor lists the [Illinois Department of Labor](https://labor.illinois.gov) as Illinois's labor office. Federal complaints: Wage and Hour Division, 1-866-487-9243.

## Sources

- [Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
- [State Minimum Wage Laws](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
- [Fact Sheet #15: Tipped Employees Under the FLSA](https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/15-tipped-employees-flsa), U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division