Illinois employment laws for employers: what to check before you hire

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Illinois and US federal rules, as of 31 October 2026. Every fact below was read on the official page linked in the Sources list on 31 October 2026. Laws change; check the official source.

Illinois lists a $15.00 minimum wage for employers of four or more in the DOL state table. Under the Illinois Department of Labor's Wage Payment and Collection Act FAQ, final pay is due at separation if possible and no later than the next regular payday. Employers must pay at least semi-monthly.

At a glance

  • Minimum wage: see the next section; local rates can be higher.
  • Overtime: federal rule applies; state rules noted where we could open them.
  • Final pay, pay frequency, E-Verify and new hire reporting: stated only where an official source opened.
  • A topic marked "not stated" is not a finding that no rule exists. It means we could not confirm it.

What is the minimum wage in Illinois?

The DOL state table (updated July 1, 2026) lists Illinois at $15.00 per hour for employers of four or more employees, excluding family members. We did not open an Illinois Department of Labor minimum wage page. Local rates, such as in Chicago and Cook County, can be higher, so check the city and county where the employee works.

What are the overtime basics?

The federal rule, per the DOL, is overtime pay at not less than time and one-half the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek, unless exempt. We did not open an Illinois overtime source (the Illinois statute site did not open), so check the Illinois Department of Labor for state rules.

When is the final paycheck due in Illinois?

The Illinois Department of Labor Wage Payment and Collection Act FAQ says final pay must be paid on the employee's next regularly scheduled payday, and that, if possible, final compensation should be paid at separation, but in no event later than the next regularly scheduled payday. The page shows no last-updated date; its footer reads "2026".

How often must Illinois employers pay?

The same FAQ says every employer is required to pay all wages earned at least semi-monthly, and payment is due no later than 13 days after the end of the pay period in which the wages were earned. Executive, administrative and professional employees, as defined under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, may be paid once a month, and commissions may also be paid once a month.

Does Illinois require E-Verify?

We could not open an official source for this topic on 31 October 2026, so no rule is stated here. Check the state labor department before you rely on anything for it. The federal E-Verify employers page (last updated 02/20/2024) did not list state requirements when we opened it, so confirm any state mandate on the state's own site. For the federal Form I-9, see the I-9 and E-Verify checklist. The E-Verify by state page lists what we could confirm across the ten states.

What is new hire reporting in Illinois?

We could not open an official source for this topic on 31 October 2026, so no rule is stated here. Check the state labor department before you rely on anything for it.

A practical tip for Illinois employers

The 13-day outer limit and the semi-monthly rule work together. Check that your payroll calendar pays each period within 13 days of its end.

Employer checklist

  1. Confirm the work location, because state and local rules follow the place of work.
  2. Check the minimum wage for the state and the city or county, and note the date you checked.
  3. Set the payroll schedule against the pay frequency rule, and the offboarding checklist against the final pay rule.
  4. Check whether E-Verify applies to your employee count, and keep the federal I-9 file either way.
  5. Report each new hire on time and keep proof of submission.
  6. Re-read the official pages each quarter and after any announced rule change.

FAQ

When is final pay due in Illinois? At separation if possible and no later than the next regularly scheduled payday, per the IDOL FAQ.

How often must Illinois employers pay? At least semi-monthly, with payment within 13 days after the pay period ends, per the IDOL FAQ. Some exempt employees and commissions may be paid monthly.

Is the Illinois minimum wage $15.00? That is the DOL table figure for employers of four or more. Check Chicago and Cook County for higher local rates.

Where can I compare states? See the employment laws by state hub, the minimum wage by state table and the final paycheck laws by state page.

Next step: use this checklist with the how to hire an employee guide.

Sources

  • Illinois Department of Labor, Wage Payment and Collection Act FAQ (no date shown): https://labor.illinois.gov/faqs/wage-payment-faq.html (accessed 31 October 2026)
  • US DOL, State Minimum Wage Laws (updated July 1, 2026): https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state (accessed 31 October 2026)
  • US DOL, Overtime pay: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/overtime (accessed 31 October 2026)

This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.