2026 Tax Year · Single Filer · Illinois

$15 an Hour in Illinois — After-Tax Take-Home (2026)

At $15/hour (2,080 hours/year), your gross annual income is $31,200. After federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Illinois state income tax, your take-home pay is $12.36/hr. In Illinois's medium cost-of-living environment, this is below what's needed for comfortable living in Illinois.

Gross Annual

$31,200

Net Annual
$25,705

Net Monthly

$2,142

Net Hourly

$12.36

Pay Period Breakdown

Hourly $15.00 $2.64 $12.36

Daily (8 hrs) $120.00 $21.14 $98.86

Weekly (40 hrs) $600.00 $105.68 $494.32

Biweekly $1,200.00 $211.35 $988.65

Monthly $2,600.00 $457.93 $2,142.07

Annual $31,200 $5,495 $25,705

Full Tax Breakdown — Illinois, Single Filer

Gross Annual Income $15/hr × 2,080 hrs $31,200

Federal Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$16,100

Federal Taxable Income $15,100

Federal Income Tax 5.0% −$1,564.00

Social Security (6.2%) up to $184,500 −$1,934.40

Medicare (1.45%) −$452.40

Illinois Standard Deduction Single 2026 −$0

Illinois State Income Tax 5.0% −$1,544.40

Total Tax 17.6% effective −$5,495.20

Net Take-Home $25,705

How Does Illinois Compare?

See how $15/hr take-home differs in other states at the same wage:

California $422.38 $2,236/mo $26,827 Florida None $2,271/mo $27,249 New York $958.25 $2,191/mo $26,291 Texas None $2,271/mo $27,249 Washington None $2,271/mo $27,249

Open Full Calculator for Illinois — $15/hr →

Equivalent Annual Salary Pages

$15/hr = $31,200/year gross. See the full state-by-state salary breakdown:

Adjacent Rates in Illinois

Same Rate, Other States

Cost of Living in Illinois

✗ Difficult — $15/hr falls short in Illinois

Avg 1BR rent in Chicago: $1,400/mo — over the 30% rule (54% of gross monthly)
Minimum comfortable income in Illinois: $44,000/yr
Your net annual: $25,705 ($18,295 below comfortable threshold)
Purchasing power equivalent in Texas: ~$14.3/hr

Working at $15/hr in Illinois

Illinois' flat 4.95% tax with no standard deduction means you pay state tax on every dollar earned. Chicago 1BR rents average $1,400–$1,800/month. Outside Chicago, costs drop significantly — Rockford, Peoria, and Springfield offer much lower housing costs on the same wage.

At $15/hr, you work roughly 114 hours each month to cover a typical 1BR in Chicago ($1,400/mo) -- that's above the 30% gross income guideline. This wage is 1.0x Illinois's minimum wage of $15/hr. Your combined effective tax rate at $15/hr in Illinois is 17.6% -- federal income tax accounts for 5.0%, FICA 7.7%, and Illinois state tax 5.0%.

Chicago is a global financial, logistics, and manufacturing hub. Major employers include United Airlines, Boeing (recently moved HQ), Caterpillar, Abbott Labs, and a large financial services sector. Outside Chicago, Illinois has significant agricultural and manufacturing economies.

Illinois has a flat 4.95% income tax rate — no graduated brackets. This is mandated by the state constitution (a constitutional amendment to add graduated rates failed in 2020). Illinois also has no standard deduction, meaning the full gross income is taxed at 4.95%.

Illinois' minimum wage is $15.00/hr (2026). Chicago has a higher local minimum of $16.20/hr.

Monthly Budget on $15/hr in Illinois

Based on $2,142/month take-home. Percentages follow common 50/30/20 guidelines adjusted for Illinois's cost of living.

Rent / Housing $1,400 $16,800 65.4%

Food (groceries + dining) $257 $3,084 12.0%

Transportation $214 $2,568 10.0%

Utilities $129 $1,548 6.0%

Healthcare $107 $1,284 5.0%

Entertainment $107 $1,284 5.0%

Savings (10% target) $214 $2,568 10.0%

Remaining / Surplus $-286 $-3,432 -13.4%

⚠ This budget is underwater — rent alone exceeds the 30% guideline in Illinois at $15/hr. Consider roommates, lower-cost areas, or targeting a higher wage to reach balance.

Overtime Pay — $15/hr in Illinois

At time-and-a-half ($22.50/hr), here's what overtime adds to your annual net income in Illinois. Your marginal tax rate at this income level is ~18.4%.

5 hrs/week $113 $92 $4,600

10 hrs/week $225 $184 $9,200

20 hrs/week $450 $367 $18,350

Hours to Afford Common Purchases at $15/hr

How many hours of work (gross) to buy common items. Actual cost in after-tax hours is higher — divide by your $12.36 net hourly rate for the true cost in time.

Tank of gas (12 gal) $50 3.4 hrs 4.1 hrs

Week of groceries $120 8 hrs 9.8 hrs

iPhone 16 (base) $799 53.3 hrs 64.7 hrs

1 month rent (Chicago) $1,400 93.4 hrs 113.3 hrs

Used car ($10k) $10,000 666.7 hrs 809.2 hrs

Median new car ($48k) $48,000 3200 hrs 3884.1 hrs

What Jobs Pay $15/hr in Illinois?

At $15/hour, you earn 35% below the estimated median hourly wage in Illinois. Jobs that commonly pay around this rate include:

barista, home health aide, security guard, warehouse associate, hotel front desk agent, call center representative

These figures reflect statewide averages for Illinois. The Chicago metro area typically pays 12% more than rural parts of the state for the same role. Specialized certifications, union membership, or government employment at this wage tier often add meaningful benefits that raise total compensation above the base hourly figure.

At 15/hr in Illinois, your net income of $25,705 falls $18,295 short of the estimated $44,000 comfortable living threshold. Roommates, a side income, or a wage increase would significantly improve financial stability.

Geographic Wage Variation Within Illinois

The $15/hr figure reflects a statewide average. Wages for the same job title can differ significantly by location within Illinois. The Chicago metro area generally commands a 12% premium over the state average, while rural areas typically pay 6% less.

Chicago metro$16.8/hr+12%Higher pay, higher COL

Illinois average$15/hrBaselineThis page's figures

Rural Illinois$14.1/hr-6%Lower pay, lower COL

When choosing between metro and rural Illinois at this wage tier, compare net monthly surplus rather than gross hourly rates. Rural areas have lower rent, shorter commutes, and lower day-to-day costs -- the purchasing power difference is often smaller than the raw wage gap suggests.

Savings Goals at $15/hr in Illinois

Saving $214/month (10% of net), here is how long it takes to reach common financial milestones from a starting balance of zero:

Weekend getaway$3,00015 monthsFlights + hotel, domestic

3-month emergency fund$6,32130 monthsCore expenses only

6-month emergency fund$12,64260 monthsFull financial cushion

Used car (no loan)$8,00038 monthsReliable used vehicle

New car down payment$25,000117 months~50% down to minimize payments

Home down payment$6,60031 months10% on a starter home in Illinois

At 15/hr in Illinois, hitting these savings goals requires strict discipline. Track expenses for 30 days to identify spending leaks -- small cuts in food and entertainment often free up $100-$200/month without affecting quality of life.

Debt Payoff on $15/hr in Illinois

Allocating 15% of net monthly income ($321/month) toward debt repayment is sustainable while still allowing for savings and essentials.

Credit card$5,000$32116 months

Student loan$30,000$32194 months

These timelines exclude interest, which meaningfully extends payoff for high-APR credit cards. Prioritize high-interest debt first. Even an extra $50/month toward a credit card balance can cut months off your payoff timeline and save hundreds in interest.

401(k) and Retirement at $15/hr

Contributing 6% ($1,872/year) to a pre-tax 401(k) saves you $317 in taxes at your 16.9% marginal rate -- your actual out-of-pocket cost is only $1,555/year. If your employer matches up to 6%, that match is $1,872 in additional annual compensation -- never leave it uncaptured.

Saving $2,568/year and investing at a 7% average annual return builds significant wealth over time:

5 years$12,840$13,610$770 interest

10 years$25,680$27,298$1,618 interest

20 years$51,360$55,058$3,698 interest

What Would a Raise Mean at $15/hr in Illinois?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,697 to your annual net take-home in Illinois after taxes. Your marginal rate on additional income is approximately 18.4%, so you keep 81.6% of every extra dollar earned.

$1/hr raise$16/hr$1,697$141

5% raise$15.8/hr$1,358$113

10% raise$16.5/hr$2,546$212

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 15 an hour a good wage in Illinois?

15/hr in Illinois gives you $25,705/year after taxes -- below what's needed for comfortable living in Illinois. Avg 1BR rent in Chicago: $1,400/month (exceeds the 30% rule). It places you 35% below the estimated state median wage.

What is 15 an hour after taxes in Illinois?

15/hr in Illinois = $25,705/year or $2,142/month net. Effective tax rate: 17.6%, made up of 5.0% federal, 7.7% FICA, and 5.0% Illinois state tax.

What jobs pay 15 an hour in Illinois?

Common roles at 15/hr in Illinois include cashier, food service worker, retail associate. Metro areas like Chicago typically pay 12% more for the same role.

How does 15/hr go further -- Illinois or Texas?

15/hr in Illinois has similar purchasing power to ~14.3/hr in Texas. Illinois state income tax reduces take-home vs Texas.

How long to build an emergency fund at 15/hr in Illinois?

Saving $214/month (10% of net), you reach a 3-month emergency fund of $6,321 in 30 months. A 6-month fund takes 60 months.

What does a 401(k) cost at 15/hr in Illinois?

A 6% contribution ($1,872/year) saves $317 in taxes at your 16.9% marginal rate. Your net out-of-pocket cost is only $1,555/year -- and if your employer matches, it is essentially free money.

What does a $1/hr raise mean at 15/hr in Illinois?

A $1/hr raise adds $1,697/year to your net take-home in Illinois after the 18.4% marginal tax rate. You keep 81.6% of every additional dollar earned.

What is the effective tax rate at 15/hr in Illinois?

At 15/hr in Illinois, your total effective tax rate is 17.6%: federal income tax 5.0%, Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.5%, and Illinois state tax 5.0%. You keep 82.4% of every gross dollar.

Can you afford rent in Chicago on 15/hr?

The average 1BR in Chicago is $1,400/month. At 15/hr, rent consumes 54% of your gross monthly pay -- above the 30% affordability guideline. Your net hourly rate of $12.36 means you work 114 hours per month to cover rent.

What does 15/hr look like as an annual salary?

15/hr times 2,080 hours equals $31,200/year gross. After all taxes in Illinois, your net annual income is $25,705 -- an effective take-home rate of 82.4%.