The Illinois minimum wage increased to $11 on Friday, The Illinois Department of Labor is encouraging all employees that get paid hourly to check their paychecks to ensure that time worked in 2021 is paid at the new rate. The law that was signed into effect in 2019 by Governor JB Pritzker will increase the minimum wage slowly to $15 by 2025.
8 States and Washington DC all have laws slowly working towards $15 an hour. Minimum wage earners received two pay increases in 2020. One for $9.25 in January and one in July for $10. The minimum wage will continue to increase an additional $1 an hour each January 1st until it reaches $15/hr in 2025.
Illinois has not seen a minimum increase wage since 2010 when it was raised to $8.25. Cook County's minimum wage is $13/hr while the City of Chicago minimum wage is $13.50 an hour for small employers of up to 20 employees and $14 for large employers with more than 20 employees.
As far as waitstaff is concerned, the new law maintains provisions for employers to count gratuities to offset wages for workers who regularly earn tips. Tipped employees may be paid 60% of the hourly minimum wage and the employer must make up the difference to earn that minimum wage.
For minimum wage employees under the age of 18 who work fewer than 650 hours, minimum wage is $8.50/hr which will rise to $13/hr by 2025.
If you feel you are being underpaid or have an issue with minimum wage please call the Illinois Department of Labor at 312-793-2800.
