Employment & Worker Protection · Illinois
Illinois Minimum Wage Law
820 ILCS 105 - enacted in Illinois.
- Enacted
- Status
- 2019
- Enacted
- 51
- States with employment & worker protection laws
- 62/100
- Illinois strictness
The bottom line
Illinois Minimum Wage Law is an enacted law in Illinois, part of a mature, broadly-adopted employment & worker protection landscape.
- Enacted
- effective 2025-01-01
- 51
- states have employment & worker protection laws
- 107/107
- employment & worker protection laws enacted nationally
- 62/100
- Illinois strictness score
Data compiled 2026-03-18 from the official Illinois legislative record linked below; laws can be amended or repealed after this date.
Regulatory Snapshot: Illinois Minimum Wage Law
Illinois Minimum Wage Law (820 ILCS 105) is an enacted law in Illinois under the Employment & Worker Protection category. It was enacted on 2019-02-19 and becomes effective on 2025-01-01. Illinois currently reports 9 tracked regulations with 8 already in force, giving the state a regulatory strictness score of 62/100 relative to the national baseline. PlainRegWatch compiled this entry's data on 2026-03-18; consult the linked official source for the current, authoritative text.
Nationally, 107 employment & worker protection statutes have been enacted and 0 additional bills remain pending - 51 distinct jurisdictions have codified rules in this area so far. That places Illinois within a mature and broadly adopted employment & worker protection landscape where compliance programs typically hinge on definitions in 820 ILCS 105 itself.
Applicability under Illinois Minimum Wage Law: All private employers in Illinois. Penalty exposure is documented as: $500/day for willful violations. Back pay. IDES enforcement. Notable exemptions: Employees under 18 (partial), outside salespeople..
Summary
Illinois minimum wage $15.00/hr (2025). Chicago and Cook County set higher rates. Tipped workers: $9.00/hr (60% of min wage).
Key Requirements
$15.00/hr statewide (2025). Tipped: 60% of min wage. Youth under 18: may pay $13.00/hr first 90 days.
Penalties
$500/day for willful violations. Back pay. IDES enforcement.
Applicability
All private employers in Illinois.
Exemptions
Employees under 18 (partial), outside salespeople.
How Illinois compares on employment & worker protection
51 states regulate employment & worker protection - Illinois ranks #5 by overall regulatory strictness. Bar = state strictness score (0–100).
| # | State | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 100 |
| 2 | Colorado | 76 |
| 3 | Texas | 69 |
| 4 | Connecticut | 62 |
| 5 | Illinois (this state) | 62 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 62 |
| 7 | New York | 62 |
| 8 | Oregon | 62 |
| 9 | Washington | 62 |
| 10 | Delaware | 59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which states have employment & worker protection regulations?
As of the last verification, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection regulations, with 0 additional bills pending across other states. Illinois is among the states that has enacted such legislation. Browse all employment & worker protection regulations at plainregwatch.com for the complete state-by-state comparison.
When was Illinois Minimum Wage Law enacted?
Illinois Minimum Wage Law was enacted on 2019-02-19 and became effective on 2025-01-01. It was introduced as 820 ILCS 105.
What are the penalties for violating Illinois Minimum Wage Law?
$500/day for willful violations. Back pay. IDES enforcement. Note that enforcement mechanisms and penalty structures may vary. Consult the official statute and qualified legal counsel for specific compliance requirements.
Does Illinois Minimum Wage Law apply to small businesses?
All private employers in Illinois. Many state regulations include thresholds or exemptions for smaller organizations. Review the full applicability criteria and consult legal counsel to determine your obligations.
How does Illinois compare to other states on employment & worker protection?
Illinois has a regulatory strictness score of 62/100, based on 8 enacted regulations out of 9 tracked. Nationally, 51 states have enacted employment & worker protection laws. Visit our state comparison page for a full ranking.
Where can I read the full text of Illinois Minimum Wage Law?
The official text of Illinois Minimum Wage Law (820 ILCS 105) is available from the Illinois legislature. PlainRegWatch links to the official source for every tracked regulation. We recommend reviewing the full statute alongside qualified legal counsel for compliance planning.
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Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Regulation details may have changed since this data was compiled (2026-03-18). Always consult official sources and qualified legal counsel for compliance guidance.
More Illinois Regulations
The bottom line
This law is already in force - here's what matters for employment & worker protection compliance.
- Illinois Minimum Wage Law is enacted in Illinois, effective 2025-01-01. Official source
- 51 states now regulate employment & worker protection; Illinois ranks #5 by strictness - compare requirements before you operate across state lines. Compare states
- See every regulation Illinois tracks across all five policy areas. Illinois profile
Summaries are general information, not legal advice; always confirm against the official statute and qualified counsel.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Verify with the official Illinois source →
Every figure on PlainRegWatch is rendered directly from state source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal and state source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.