Illinois tipped minimum wage
In effect since January 1, 2025
$9.00 minimum cash wage
Employers can take a tip credit of up to $6.00 an hour, as long as cash wages plus tips reach the $15.00 minimum for every hour worked.
Minimum wage
$15.00
Tipped cash wage
$9.00
Max tip credit
$6.00
Federal cash wage
$2.13
with $5.12 credit
Tip credit check
Enter one pay period for a tipped employee in Illinois. The calculator shows whether tips covered the gap between the cash wage and the minimum wage, and what you owe if they didn't.
Assumes a single workweek and straight-time hours. Overtime, tip pools and service charges have separate rules.
Local tipped wages in Illinois
| Place | Minimum wage | Tipped cash wage |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $17.05 | $12.96 |
| Cook County | $15.40 | $9.25 |
Rules that apply everywhere
- The employer must tell tipped employees about the tip credit before taking it, under federal rules.
- Tips belong to the employee. Managers and supervisors can't share in a tip pool.
- If tips and cash wages fall short of the minimum in a workweek, the employer pays the difference.
Federal tip rules: DOL Fact Sheet #15.
Running payroll in Illinois?
Sources
- Illinois Department of Labor, Fair Labor Standards Division · data as of January 1, 2025 · last checked October 9, 2026
We copy figures from official sources and re-check them against the source before every update. See our methodology. This is general information, not legal advice.