What was Pritzker’s role in raising Illinois minimum wage? Governor lauds achievement during rally

Gov. JB Pritzker held a rally in Chicago today after announcing his run for a third term as mayor in 2026.

Throughout his speech, the governor lauded his accomplishments throughout his past seven years in office. This included raising the state minimum wage, which Pritzker said had been just $8.25 before he was elected.

Here’s what to know about Pritzker’s involvement in raising the wage.

What was Illinois minimum wage before Pritzker took office?

As Pritzker said during his rally, the minimum wage in Illinois was $8.25 before he was elected in 2019, according to the Illinois Department of Labor. In fact, it remained the same for 10 years, from 2010 until 2020.

In 2019, Illinois lawmakers passed a law dictating that minimum wage in the state would annually increase until it reached $15 an hour, an effort led by Pritzker, who campaigned on the promise of raising the minimum wage. 

The first increase came on Jan. 1, 2020, when the minimum wage rose to $9.25 an hour. Six months later, in July 2020, it increased again to $10.

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Illinois minimum wage throughout the years

As promised, the minimum wage progressively increased every year until 2025, when it rose to $15 per hour.

• 2020: $9.25-10
• 2021: $11
• 2022: $12
• 2023: $13
• 2024: $14
• 2025: $15