Illinois labor laws for hourly staff: minimum wage, breaks and minors
Illinois's basic minimum wage is $15.00 per hour, as listed by the US Department of Labor (updated November 5, 2026). The DOL meal-period table (revised January 1, 2023) lists a meal-period requirement for adult private-sector employees for Illinois, and its rest-period table lists a paid rest-period requirement.
Illinois labor rules at a glance
| Topic | What the US DOL table says for Illinois | Source date |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $15.00 | November 5, 2026 |
| Overtime / premium pay | Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40 | November 5, 2026 |
| Meal break (adults) | See table below | January 1, 2023 |
| Paid rest break (adults) | See table below | January 1, 2023 |
| Minors under 16: max hours | 8-40 non-school day/week 3-18 school day/week | July 15, 2025 |
| Minors 16–17: max hours | Blank on the DOL table | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, under 16 | 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. | July 15, 2025 |
| Night work, 16–17 | Blank on the DOL table | July 15, 2025 |
Minimum wage in Illinois
Applicable to employers of 4 or more employees, excluding family members
Basic Minimum Rate (per hour): $15.00
Premium Pay After Designated Hours 1 : Weekly - 40
DOL footnote 1: The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
The DOL notes that some local governments set minimum wages higher than the state rate, and that subminimum or training rates are not shown in its table.
Meal breaks in Illinois
| Rule | Prescribed by | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| At least 20 minutes, no later than 5 hours after the start of the work period, to employees who work 7 ½ continuous hours or more. Each hotel room attendant -- those persons who clean or put guest rooms in order in a hotel or other establishment licensed for transient occupancy -- shall receive one 30-minute meal period in each workday in which they work at least seven hours. | Statute | Excludes employees whose meal periods are established by collective bargaining. Different requirements apply to employees who monitor individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness and certain private employees licensed under the Emergency Medical Services Systems Act. Hotel room attendant rules apply only to an establishment located in a county with a population greater than three million. |
The DOL lists Illinois among the jurisdictions with separate meal-period provisions for minors.
DOL footnote 3/: Not displayed in table are exemptions for executive, administrative and professional employees, and for outside salespersons.
Rest breaks in Illinois
| Rule | Prescribed by | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Each hotel room attendant -- those persons who clean or put guest rooms in order in a hotel or other establishment licensed for transient occupancy -- shall receive a minimum of two 15-minute paid rest break periods in each workday in which they work at least seven hours. | Statute | Applies to an establishment located in a county with a population greater than three million. |
Scheduling minors in Illinois
Hours notation is the DOL's: daily-weekly-days per week (for example 8-40-6). Where state law is less restrictive than federal law, federal law applies; where it is more restrictive, state law applies (29 U.S.C. 218(a), as quoted by the DOL).
| Age | Maximum hours | Night work prohibited |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | 8-40 non-school day/week 3-18 school day/week | 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m. |
| 16 and 17 | Blank on the DOL table | Blank on the DOL table |
DOL table footnotes: (a) State hours limitations on a school day and in a school week usually apply only to those enrolled in school. (b) Students of 14 and 15 enrolled in approved Work Experience and Career Exploration programs may work during school hours up to 3 hours on a school day and 23 hours in a school week. (c) Combined hours of work and school.
A blank cell is blank on the DOL table. The federal (FLSA) row of the same DOL table, for minors under 16: 3 hours on a school day and 18 in a school week, 8 hours on a non-school day and 40 in a non-school week, and no work from 7 p.m. (9 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day) to 7 a.m.
Tools: overtime calculator · labor cost calculator · all states
This is general information, not legal advice. Check your state labor department for current rules.
Questions
What is the minimum wage in Illinois?
The US DOL lists Illinois's basic minimum rate as $15.00 per hour (updated November 5, 2026). Some cities and counties set higher local rates.
Does Illinois require meal breaks for adults?
Yes, the DOL meal-period table (revised January 1, 2023) lists a requirement for Illinois; see the table on this page.
Does Illinois require paid rest breaks?
Yes, Illinois is listed in the DOL paid rest-period table (revised January 1, 2023); see the table on this page.
Sources
- US DOL, Overtime Pay (checked 2026-11-12)
- State Minimum Wage Laws (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Minimum Length of Meal Period Required under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector 1 (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Minimum Paid Rest Period Requirements Under State Law for Adult Employees in Private Sector (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- Selected State Child Labor Standards Affecting Minors Under 18 in Non-farm Employment as of July 15, 2025 (US DOL) (checked 2026-11-12)
- US DOL, Breaks and Meal Periods (checked 2026-11-12)