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Illinois Hourly Paycheck Calculator

An hourly wage in Illinois is reduced by federal income tax, FICA of 7.65% (6.2% Social Security up to the annual wage base plus 1.45% Medicare), and a flat 4.95% Illinois income tax in 2026. Enter your wage and hours to see net pay for any pay frequency. Against the 5 states Illinois borders, the same $25 an hour is worth $41,388 here: Iowa keeps $1,210 more ($42,598), Missouri keeps $1,067 more ($42,455), Indiana keeps $1,040 more ($42,428), Wisconsin keeps $1,036 more ($42,424) and Kentucky keeps $872 more ($42,260). Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin are the only borders worth crossing for the tax alone.

Estimated take-home

$1,592

every two weeks · $41,388 a year

For $25/hr, 40 hrs a week · Illinois · single

Take-home 80%Taxes & deductions 20%

Pay stub

ItemPer paycheckPer year
Gross pay$2,000.00$52,000
Federal income tax− $156.15− $4,060
Social Security (FICA)− $124.00− $3,224
Medicare (FICA)− $29.00− $754
Illinois income tax− $99.00− $2,574
Take-home pay$1,591.85$41,388

FICA is Social Security plus Medicare.

Estimate based on 2026 federal and Illinois tax rules updated Oct 2026 How we calculate

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You keep

80¢of every dollar

On average you keep 80¢ of each dollar. Of your next $1,000, you’d keep about $754: the dashed line.

Insights

  • Next $1,000

    Every extra $1,000 you earn adds about $754 to your take-home. The other $246 goes to tax.

  • In Texas

    In Texas the same pay would leave you $2,574 more a year. Texas has no state income tax.

  • Overtime

    One more overtime hour a week ($37.50) would add about $57 to each paycheck after withholding.

State comparisons cover income and payroll taxes only; living costs and other taxes differ.

Effective tax rate 20.4%

What common hourly wages leave in Illinois

Worked full time at 40 hours a week in Illinois, here is what common wages leave after federal tax, Illinois income tax and FICA in 2026:

WageGrossIllinois taxYou keepShare kept
$18/hour$37,440$1,853$30,41081.2%
$25/hour$52,000$2,574$41,38879.6%
$35/hour$72,800$3,604$56,44177.5%

Illinois takes about 5.0% of that money on top of the 8% federal marginal rate and 7.65% FICA.

How Illinois ranks on hourly wages

Across all 50 states and DC, Illinois ranks 48th for what $25 an hour leaves in 2026. That is $872 less than the median state ($42,260), and $1,714 more than Oregon, where the same $25 an hour leaves $39,674.

The best outcome anywhere is $43,962 in Alaska and the other states with no wage income tax, $2,574 more than Illinois keeps.

Illinois hourly wages against the states next door

Crossing a state line changes what the same hourly wage is worth without changing what you are paid. Here is $25 an hour in Illinois against the states it borders:

StateState income taxYou keepvs Illinois
Illinois$2,574$41,388—
Indiana$1,534$42,428$1,040 more
Iowa$1,364$42,598$1,210 more
Kentucky$1,702$42,260$872 more
Missouri$1,507$42,455$1,067 more
Wisconsin$1,538$42,424$1,036 more

How hourly take-home pay is calculated in Illinois

Your hourly wage is just the starting point. Illinois workers pay federal and state taxes on their annualized income, plus mandatory FICA contributions. Here's exactly how it works.

  • Annualized income determines your bracket: Your employer annualizes your hourly income (hourly rate × hours × 52 weeks) to determine the correct withholding for each paycheck.
  • Illinois state income tax: Illinois taxes wages at a flat 4.95%, applied to each paycheck based on your annualized income.
  • Social Security and Medicare: FICA taxes are 6.2% for Social Security (up to the annual wage base) and 1.45% for Medicare. These are fixed percentages with no deductions or exemptions.
  • Pre-tax deductions reduce your taxable income: Contributions to a 401(k), HSA, or FSA are deducted before taxes are calculated, lowering both your taxable income and your tax bill.

The calculator combines all these factors to show your exact take-home pay per paycheck, per month, and annually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hourly wages in Illinois are subject to federal income tax (based on your annualized income and filing status), Illinois's flat 4.95% income tax, and FICA taxes (Social Security at 6.2% up to the annual wage base and Medicare at 1.45%). The calculator annualizes your hourly income to determine the correct tax bracket, then shows your actual per-paycheck take-home.

Multiply your hourly rate by your weekly hours, then by 52: $25/hour × 40 hours × 52 weeks is $52,000 a year. That annualized figure sets your federal and Illinois bracket. In Illinois it works out to $30,410 on $18 an hour, $41,388 on $25 an hour, $56,441 on $35 an hour: take-home, not gross.

Federal income tax (using progressive brackets based on your annualized income and filing status), a flat 4.95% Illinois income tax, Social Security tax (6.2% up to the wage base, currently $176,100 for 2026), and Medicare tax (1.45% on all income, plus 0.9% for earnings over $200,000 if single or $250,000 if married).

Illinois's minimum wage is set by state law and may be higher than the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. Some cities within Illinois have their own higher local minimums. Check your employer's offer against the current Illinois Department of Labor rates to verify compliance.

Your total annual tax is the same however often you're paid; only the per-paycheck withholding changes. On $25 an hour in Illinois that is about $1,592 every two weeks, $1,725 semi-monthly or $3,449 a month after tax. The calculator adjusts withholding for weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly and monthly periods.

Against the 5 states Illinois borders, the same $25 an hour is worth $41,388 here: Iowa keeps $1,210 more ($42,598), Missouri keeps $1,067 more ($42,455), Indiana keeps $1,040 more ($42,428), Wisconsin keeps $1,036 more ($42,424) and Kentucky keeps $872 more ($42,260). Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin are the only borders worth crossing for the tax alone.

It depends on your income level and property ownership. High earners ($300,000+) will likely save $10,000-$20,000+ annually compared to California's progressive brackets. However, Illinois property taxes are among the highest in the nation ($8,000-$12,000+ for typical homes in Chicago area), which can offset income tax savings for homeowners. Middle-income earners ($75,000-$150,000) might see smaller savings or even pay more in Illinois than in California's lower brackets. Factor in property ownership when evaluating Illinois.

It depends on your income level. High earners ($300,000+) often pay less in Illinois (4.95% flat) than in progressive states (6%-10%+ effective rates). However, middle-income earners ($75,000-$150,000) might pay more in Illinois than in progressive states with generous lower brackets. At $100,000, you pay $4,950 in Illinois, while the same earner in a progressive state might pay $4,000-$5,500 depending on brackets. The 'flat tax' label doesn't automatically mean lower taxes.

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