Chicago Minimum Wage (2026)
Local pay and leave rules for people who work in Chicago, Illinois, with the official city source for each — plus the state rules that still apply.
Short answer: $17.05 per hour from July 1, 2026 for employers with 4 or more employees. The tipped base wage is $12.96 per hour (employers must make up any shortfall if wages plus tips fall below the full minimum); Chicago Minimum Wage Ordinance, Chicago Municipal Code ch. 6-105; Office of Labor Standards
| Local minimum wage | $17.05 per hour from July 1, 2026 for employers with 4 or more employees. The tipped base wage is $12.96 per hour (employers must make up any shortfall if wages plus tips fall below the full minimum); the tip credit stays at 24% through June 30, 2028. Annual increases are tied to inflation, capped at 2.5%. |
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| Illinois state minimum wage | $15.00 per hour for workers 18 and older, in effect since January 1, 2025. Workers under 18 who work fewer than 650 hours a year may be paid $13.00 per hour. The state law applies to employers with 4 or more employees (not counting family members). Some local governments may set higher minimum wages. No further statewide increase is scheduled in state law. |
| Paid sick leave (local law) | Workers who work at least 80 hours in a 120-day period accrue 1 hour of paid leave and 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 35 hours worked, up to 40 hours of each per 12-month period (unless the employer sets a higher limit). Paid sick leave may be used from the 30th day of employment and paid leave from the 90th day. Up to 80 hours of paid sick leave and 16 hours of paid leave carry over. Since July 1, 2026, workers may also sue to enforce these rights. |
| Fair workweek (predictive scheduling) | Chicago's Fair Workweek Ordinance requires covered employers in certain industries to give advance notice of work schedules and pay predictability pay for some schedule changes. Source: Chicago Fair Workweek Ordinance |
Illinois labor laws · Minimum wage by state · Overtime calculator
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.