Illinois Paycheck Calculator
Estimate Illinois take-home pay fast. Enter salary or hourly details, contributions, frequency, and deductions to instantly see clear results today.
Illinois Income Tax Rate
Illinois uses a flat state income tax. Employers start with gross wages, subtract eligible pre-tax benefits—traditional 401(k), Section 125 health premiums, HSA/FSA, and commuter plans—then calculate federal withholding, FICA, and Illinois state withholding using your IL-W-4 elections and pay frequency. Supplemental wages (bonuses/commissions) may be withheld using percentage or aggregate methods aligned with federal rules. Illinois municipalities generally do not impose separate wage income taxes on employees, so your primary statutory layers are federal and state. The table below lists the statewide flat rate for the last decade; most employees’ effective rate is lower once deductions, credits, and pre-tax benefits reduce taxable income.
| Year | Rate |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3.75% |
| 2017 | 4.95% |
| 2018 | 4.95% |
| 2019 | 4.95% |
| 2020 | 4.95% |
| 2021 | 4.95% |
| 2022 | 4.95% |
| 2023 | 4.95% |
| 2024 | 4.95% |
| 2025 | 4.95% |
Illinois Median Household Income
Illinois median household income has trended upward, supported by logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, education, professional services, and tech. Pandemic-era volatility slowed progress, then nominal gains resumed in the Chicago metro and downstate hubs like Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal, Rockford, and the Metro East. The values below are nominal, directional benchmarks for budgeting or offer comparisons. For purchasing power, consider “real” (inflation-adjusted) dollars and local cost differences—housing, transportation, childcare, and insurance vary widely between city, suburban, and rural counties. Household size and employer benefits (health coverage, retirement match) meaningfully shape take-home value across Illinois.
| Year | Income |
|---|---|
| 2016 | $63,000 |
| 2017 | $65,000 |
| 2018 | $67,800 |
| 2019 | $71,000 |
| 2020 | $72,300 |
| 2021 | $75,400 |
| 2022 | $78,100 |
| 2023 | $80,600 |
| 2024 | $82,200 |
| 2025 | $83,600 (prelim.) |
Illinois Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA)
FICA funds Social Security and Medicare and applies in Illinois like everywhere in the U.S. Employees pay 6.2% Social Security on wages up to the federal wage base (employers match) and 1.45% Medicare on all wages (also matched). High earners owe an additional 0.9% Medicare surtax above federal thresholds; employers do not match the surtax. Section 125 health premiums often reduce both income-tax and FICA wages, while traditional 401(k) lowers income-tax wages but not FICA. Expect Illinois pay stubs to itemize Social Security, Medicare, federal tax, Illinois state tax, and pre-/post-tax deductions with year-to-date totals.
Illinois Number of Cities with Local Income Taxes
Illinois does not impose employee-paid municipal wage income taxes. Some localities have business or employer taxes, but employees’ paychecks generally include only federal, FICA, and state income tax.
| Locality | Employee Resident Rate | Employee Nonresident Rate |
|---|---|---|
| All Illinois cities/towns (including Chicago) | None | None |
How Your Illinois Paycheck Works
Each pay period begins with gross wages. Payroll subtracts pre-tax deductions—traditional 401(k), HSA/FSA, Section 125 health premiums, and eligible commuter benefits—to reach taxable wages. Withholding then includes federal income tax (W-4), FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and Illinois state income tax (IL-W-4). Illinois does not add a city wage tax. Post-tax items—Roth 401(k), garnishments, union dues, charitable gifts—come out after taxes and do not reduce taxable wages. Pay frequency (weekly, biweekly, semimonthly, monthly) affects per-check cash flow but not annual tax owed.
Illinois Wage and Hour Laws: Overtime, Pay Frequency
Overtime: Illinois follows FLSA—most non-exempt employees earn 1.5× their regular rate for hours worked over
40 in a workweek; exemptions apply where duties and salary thresholds are met.
Pay frequency: Employers must set regular paydays and pay consistently; semimonthly or biweekly schedules are common. State rules also
require timely final pay and itemized wage statements—review employer policy and any contracts for specifics.
FAQs
How do I use the Illinois Paycheck Calculator?
Enter gross pay, pay schedule, W-4/IL-W-4 details, pre-tax benefits, and post-tax deductions to estimate federal, FICA, and Illinois withholding.
What is Illinois’s state income tax rate?
Illinois uses a flat 4.95% rate in recent years (3.75% in 2016); your effective rate is usually lower.
Do any Illinois cities tax employee wages?
No. Employees generally do not pay city wage income taxes in Illinois.
What appears on an Illinois pay stub?
Federal tax, Social Security, Medicare, Illinois tax, pre-/post-tax deductions, year-to-date totals, and net pay.
How do 401(k) and HSA contributions affect take-home pay?
They reduce income-tax wages and boost net pay; 401(k) doesn’t reduce FICA, while many health premiums do.
How are bonuses withheld in Illinois?
Employers may use percentage or aggregate federal methods; Illinois follows its flat rate for state withholding.
Are tips taxable in Illinois?
Yes. Reported tips are subject to federal income tax, FICA, and Illinois income tax.
How often must I be paid in Illinois?
Most employees are paid at least semimonthly or biweekly on regular, published paydays per state rules.
Why did my Illinois withholding change midyear?
Updated IL-W-4, raises, overtime, or benefit elections can alter per-check withholding and your effective rate.