State of Illinois Minimum Wage
Illinois’ minimum wage has been set at $8.25 per hour since 2010. Since then, Chicago has increased its minimum wage to $12 per hour, and Cook County’s is now $11. The city and county minimums each will increase by $1 per hour July 1. Under the bill passed Thursday, the statewide rate will increase to $9.25 per hour on Jan. 1 and to $10 on July 1, 2020. It will then increase by $1 per hour each year on Jan. 1 until hitting $15 in 2025.
What is minimum wage in Illinois?
Minimum wage in Illinois is $9.25 per hour for those individuals who are 18 years and older. Employees who do NOT receive tips may be paid $7.75 for the first 90 days with employer. Those 18 and
under years of age may be paid at the rate of $7.75 per hour.
What is minimum wage for tipped employees?
Tipped employees must be paid minimum wage, but an employer may take credit for the employee's tips in an amount not to exceed 40% of the wages. An employer may pay a training wage for tipped
employees 18 and over in the amount of $4.65 for the first 90 days if applying the tip credit of 40% or $7.75 if utilizing the tip credit. After 90 days, the rate must be increased to $4.95 if not
utilizing the tip credit.
When is overtime pay legally due?
You are entitled to pay at time and one half your regular rate of pay if you worked over 40 hours in a workweek. You will need to ask your employer for their definition of a workweek.
Does my employer have to pay me time and one half or double time for working a legal holiday or a Sunday?
No. If working the legal holiday or Sunday puts you over 40 hours in a workweek, then your employer must pay you at time and one half of your regular rate of pay for those hours over 40.
However, if your employer's policy allows for payment of time and one half or double time, then the employer must honor the agreement.
Who is exempt from being paid overtime?
The following employees are exempt from overtime pay:
- Salesmen and mechanics involved in selling or servicing cars, trucks or farm implements at dealerships,
- agricultural labor,
- executive, administrative or professional employees as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act,
- certain employees involved in radio/television in a city with a population under 100,000,
- commissioned employees defined by Section 7(i) of the Fair Labor Standards Act,
- employees who exchange hours pursuant to a workplace exchange agreement,
- employees of certain educational or residential child care institutions.
How do I know if I qualify as an executive, administrative or professional employee?
The law provides that two tests must be fully met to determine if you are an executive, administrative or professional employee. First, as a general rule, you must be a salaried employee. For
definition of salary, see question below. Second, the primary duties you perform must also be exempt.
If I am paid on salary do I still qualify for overtime pay?
Possibly. You are paid a salary if you regularly receive each pay period on a weekly, or less frequent basis, a predetermined amount constituting all or part of your compensation, which amount
is not subject to reduction because of variations in the quality or quantity of the work performed. However, an employee being paid on a salary basis is not automatically exempt from receiving
overtime pay. The primary duties you perform must also be exempt to disqualify you from overtime pay.
Can I be required to work overtime?
Yes, unless such work would violate the One Day Rest in Seven Act.
Is "comp time" legal?
No. Compensatory time off in place of payment for overtime is not legal in the private sector.
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