Illinois minimum wage in 2019 at a glance
In 2019, the minimum wage in Illinois remained unchanged from 2018 at $8.25 per hour. This was part of a multiyear schedule established by the Illinois Minimum Wage Law and was set to rise to $9.25 in 2020 under a plan enacted in 2006. The wage applied to most covered employees, with lower rates for tipped workers, full-time students, and younger workers under specific conditions. Understanding this baseline is essential for comparing pay practices, calculating take-home pay, and tracking how state rules differed from the federal rate of $7.25 through that period.
2019 Illinois minimum wage rate and key details
Effective January 1, 2019, Illinois employers were required to pay at least $8.25 per hour to non-exempt workers covered by the state law. This rate had been in effect since January 1, 2018 and was scheduled to increase to $9.25 on January 1, 2020. The $8.25 hourly rate was above the federal minimum wage of $7.25, meaning employees in Illinois were entitled to the higher state rate. The 2019 year thus represented a stable period for the state wage before the next legislated increase.
When the rate changed in 2019 and what stayed the same
No increase occurred during calendar year 2019; the wage remained at $8.25 from January 1 through December 31. The next step in the state schedule was $9.25 on January 1, 2020, followed by incremental increases leading to $15 per hour for some workers in later years. Because there was no 2019 change, prior year employees saw no raise that year, while subsequent years brought steady, planned growth under the existing framework.
Who was covered and key exemptions in 2019
The Illinois Minimum Wage Act generally applied to employees who were employed within Illinois or who worked in one location in Illinois while the enterprise engaged in Illinois commerce. Certain categories were exempt or subject to different rules, including tipped employees, student learners, and workers under age 19 in their first 90 consecutive days of employment. Specific exemptions also applied to some farmworkers, casual babysitters, and employees of certain small employers under particular circumstances.
How 2019 compared with prior years and the federal baseline
Illinois minimum wage history leading into 2019 shows a deliberate progression designed to raise the floor over time. The $8.25 rate in 2019 was the second step in a multiyear plan that started with a lower baseline and was intended to move toward higher levels in subsequent years. Throughout 2019, the state rate remained above the federal minimum, which provided an important safeguard for workers in industries and regions where Illinois coverage applied.
Year-by-year context near 2019
| Year | Minimum wage (general employees) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $8.25 | Rate in effect for much of the year prior to 2018 increase |
| 2018 | $8.25 (Jan–Jun), then increased to match prior year in practice | 2018 saw adjustments in practice; formal increase to $8.25 occurred earlier |
| 2019 | $8.25 | No change during calendar year 2019; next increase scheduled for 2020 |
| 2020 | $9.25 | Planned increase under the 2006 minimum wage law schedule |
Wage rules for tipped workers and students in 2019
In 2019, employers in Illinois could pay tipped employees a reduced cash wage provided that tips brought their total earnings up to at least the standard minimum wage. The specific tip credit and student learner rates were defined under state regulations and differed from the full $8.25 baseline. Workers in restaurants, valets, and similar roles needed to ensure that combined wages and tips met the legal floor, and employers were responsible for tracking and making up any shortfall.
Practical steps for workers and employers in 2019
For workers in 2019, confirming that pay met or exceeded $8.25 per hour was an important step in protecting earnings, especially when tips or training wages were involved. Checking pay stubs, asking about tip credits, and understanding when raises were scheduled helped employees verify compliance. Employers needed to review payroll practices, train supervisors on covered workers and exemptions, and plan for the upcoming increases in 2020 and beyond to avoid violations and maintain clarity.
Why 2019 matters in the longer timeline of Illinois wage policy
Looking at Illinois minimum wage in 2019 within the broader timeline highlights a phase of stability before a series of scheduled increases. The $8.25 rate in 2019 reflected commitments made under earlier law and set the stage for gradual rises toward higher target levels in the following years. For workers, employers, and policymakers, 2019 represented a reference point for pay practices, planning, and comparisons as the state continued to adjust its wage floor.