Chicago minimum wage

$17.05 an hour since July 1, 2026. That's $2.05 above the Illinois rate of $15.00.

Who it covers: Employers with 4 or more employees (and all employers of domestic workers), for employees who work at least 2 hours in any 2-week period in Chicago. Employers with fewer than 4 employees are not covered by the city ordinance. The rate changes every July 1.

From	Hourly rate	Tipped cash wage	Official source
July 1, 2025	$16.60	$12.62	chicago.gov checked 2026-10-26
July 1, 2026	$17.05	$12.96	chicago.gov checked 2026-10-26

Other rates in Chicago

Who	Now	Next change	Source
Youth and subsidized programs Employees under 18, subsidized temporary youth employment programs, subsidized transitional employment programs, and workers covered by Section 6 of the Illinois Minimum Wage Law. From July 1, 2026 the city notice says youth workers get the standard rate.	$17.05		chicago.gov checked 2026-10-26

Changes not announced yet

July 1, 2027: Annual increase every July 1 by CPI or 2.5%, whichever is lower; the city posts it in late spring. The tipped wage has stayed at 76% of the minimum wage since July 2025 (tip credit frozen at 24%). (chicago.gov)

We add the amount as soon as it's published. The API returns these under pending_changes.

Good to know

Tipped workers' wages plus tips must reach the full minimum wage or the employer pays the difference.
Chicago's 2023 ordinance phases out the tip credit. The July 2026 tipped wage ($12.96) is 76% of the minimum wage, the same share as July 2025, which matches the reported freeze of the phase-out.
City contractors and concessionaires have a higher rate ($18.50 from July 1, 2026), not included here.
A small part of Chicago (around O'Hare) lies in DuPage County.
Chicago's PDF notices block automated downloads; their text was read in a browser.

Get an email when the Chicago minimum wage changes

One email when a new rate is announced, and a reminder a week before it takes effect. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Does the Chicago rate apply at an address?

Live API, free for 50 lookups a day without an account. US street addresses.

Get the Chicago rate by API

One call returns the federal, state, county and city rates that apply at an address, the one that governs, the tipped cash wage and the next change, each with its official source.

curl "https://bankday.dev/v1/minimum-wage?state=IL&city=Chicago" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $BANKDAY_KEY"

API docs · Pricing · State rates are free. City and county rates by name start on the Developer plan, address lookups on the Business plan.

Questions

What is the minimum wage in Chicago in 2027?

The 2027 rate isn't announced yet (Annual increase every July 1 by CPI or 2.5%, whichever is lower; the city posts it in late spring. The tipped wage has stayed at 76% of the minimum wage since July 2025 (tip credit frozen at 24%).). Until then it's $17.05 an hour.

Who does the Chicago minimum wage cover?

Employers with 4 or more employees (and all employers of domestic workers), for employees who work at least 2 hours in any 2-week period in Chicago. Employers with fewer than 4 employees are not covered by the city ordinance. The rate changes every July 1.

Rates come from the official sources linked on this page, checked on the dates shown. This is data, not legal advice: confirm with the official source before relying on it. Found a mistake? Email hello@bankday.dev.