<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://q.quora.com/_/ad/0198544fd2514a0fb72f9b9f75905f7f/pixel?tag=ViewContent&amp;noscript=1">
hiring
Hiring
onboard-digital
Onboarding
onboarding-1
Team Operations
team-comminucation
Team Communications
handshake
Engagement
Workstream-AI
AI BETA
payroll
Payroll NEW
Back
hiring
FEATURES
Back
onboard-digital
FEATURES
Back
onboarding-1
FEATURES
Back
team-comminucation
FEATURES
Back
handshake
FEATURES
Back
Workstream-AI
FEATURES
Back
payroll
FEATURES
Featured Reads
Webinar
For our customers: Product roadmap sneak peek
hiring
Hourly Wage Index
Discover how your pay practices stack up against other regions, positions, and industries. 
HOURLY WAGE INDEX

Let’s talk wages in Illinois

balance_scale
$13.35

What is the minimum wage in Illinois?

The minimum wage in Illinois is $13.00 per hour for employees 18 years of age and older and the Illinois minimum wage for tipped employees is $7.80 per hour. Workers under 18 who work fewer than 650 hours a year will earn a minimum wage of $10.50 per hour beginning January 1.

The Illinois minimum wage is set to increase to $14.00 per hour on January 1, 2024, $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2025, and $15.00 per hour on January 1, 2026.

There are some exceptions to the minimum wage law. For example, employers may pay sub-minimum wages to learners and certain workers with physical and mental limitations. Overtime must be paid after 40 hours of work per week at time and one-half the regular rate.

statistics
$23.03

What is the average wage in Illinois?

The average hourly wage for all occupations in Illinois is $23.03 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Some of the highest paying industries in Illinois include Management, professional and related occupations, and legal occupations. The average hourly wage for management occupations is $41.99 and for legal occupations is $24.76.
money
$15.40

What is the minimum wage in Chicago, Illinois?

Since July 1, 2022 the minimum wage in Chicago has been at $15.40 per hour for employers with 21 or more workers and $14.50 per hour for employers with 4 to 20 workers.

Wages aren’t everything!

While pay is one of the main factors that hourly employees consider when choosing to join (or stay at) a company, it’s not the end all be all. Research shows that advancement opportunities, supportive management, and schedule flexibility are all incredibly important as well.

Want to learn more about this trend? We dive deep into the data behind which perks and benefits matter most to hourly workers. Check out our full conversation with expert Sara Wasserteil of Cara Collective.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between gross wages and net wages?

It's important to remember that the Hourly Wage Index data above reflects gross wages, or the amount of money an employee earns before accounting for payroll deductions like taxes, benefits, or wage garnishments. Due to variability in tax rates across locations, slightly lower gross wages in a certain location might result in higher take home pay, or vice versa.

What is a good hourly wage?

This question is a difficult one to answer, as a "good hourly wage" is highly subjective according to experience, work responsibilities, cost of living, and other factors. We recommend using Hourly Wage Index data as a starting point. Once you have established a baseline for certain positions, do further research into similar businesses in your area.

Lastly, consider surveying your employees. They're the best resource to help you know what is a good hourly wage, what competitive pay looks like in your location, and how competitive wages change in your industry over time.

Offering competitive pay is one of my top priorities—what other resources do you have that might help?

We know that getting applicants to pay attention to your business can be extremely challenging, and that offering competitive pay is a huge part of that. Wages aren’t everything, however! Applicant experience is another important factor that can help set you apart from your competition. A few examples include:

  • Short, easy to understand job descriptions
  • Mobile-friendliness
  • Quick communication
  • Streamlined interview stages
Resources

Learn more about hiring and
retaining the hourly workforce

Cover
GUIDE

4 secrets to increasing loyalty among today’s deskless workforce

hiring-hacks-thumb
HIRING HACKS

Get actionable tips in this series of quick videos

container_two
GUIDE

Checking the box on hiring and retention

Resources

Become a hiring and onboarding expert.

GUIDE

Checking the box on hiring and retention

BLOG

5 Steps to build your convenience store brand

BLOG

Social media recruiting: Why your employees should help

We're here to help!

A Workstream hiring specialist can help you identify high impact ways to improve your applicant experience, and even help you determine what is a good hourly wage for your location and business.

Sign up for a free 30 minute chat with a hiring specialist now

Learn about wages in your city