Illinois Paycheck Calculator
Using 2026 federal and Illinois tax figures · last checked
Short answer
A $60,000 salary in Illinois takes home about $47,420 a year — roughly $3,952 a month — after $5,020 federal income tax and $4,590 in Social Security and Medicare, plus $2,970 in Illinois state income tax. That is an effective rate of 21.0%. Figures assume a single filer taking the standard deduction, with no pre-tax deductions.
The question most people arrive with is simple: gross pay says one number, the deposit says another, where did the difference go? In Illinois the answer is federal income tax, FICA, and Illinois state tax on top. Put your gross in and the breakdown is itemised line by line.
Before any deductions.
Estimated take-home pay
$1,591.85
- Gross pay
- $2,000.00
- Federal income tax
- −$156.15
- Social Security
- −$124.00
- Medicare
- −$29.00
- Illinois state tax
- −$99.00
- Total withheld
- −$408.15
Figures on this page are estimates produced from the inputs you provide. A pay stub you generate documents what you enter; it is not a verified employment record issued by an employer. If you need official proof of income, request it from your employer or download your wage transcript free from the IRS.
Illinois income tax brackets
| Rate | Taxable income |
|---|---|
| 4.95% | All taxable income (flat rate) |
Minimum wage in Illinois: $14.00/hr
What comes out of every paycheck
The FICA pair is fixed by federal law rather than by Illinois. Social Security withholds 6.2% until annual wages reach $184,500, after which it stops for the rest of the year — which is why some people see their net pay rise late in the year. Medicare withholds 1.45% throughout, plus 0.9% on anything over $200,000.
Illinois has a constitutionally mandated flat tax rate of 4.95%. A 2020 ballot measure to allow graduated rates was rejected by voters. Chicago residents do not face a city income tax, but property taxes are among the highest in the nation.
Illinois Flat Tax: 4.95% on Every Dollar
Illinois charges a flat 4.95% income tax on all taxable income. This rate is written into the state constitution, which requires any income tax to be applied at a single uniform rate. In 2020, voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed graduated rates with a top bracket of 7.99%. So for now, every Illinois worker — from a Walmart cashier in Springfield to a trader on LaSalle Street — pays the same 4.95%. Illinois does not allow a standard deduction or personal exemptions, which is unusual. Instead, you get a $2,425 personal exemption credit that reduces your tax liability (not your taxable income).
Working in Chicago: What to Expect
Chicago does not have a city income tax — a common misconception. However, Chicago and Cook County have some of the highest property and sales taxes in Illinois. The combined sales tax rate in Chicago is 10.25%. For commuters working in the suburbs vs. the city, there is no difference in state income tax — 4.95% applies everywhere. If you work in Illinois but live in Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, or Wisconsin, reciprocity agreements mean you only pay tax to your home state. This is a real benefit for workers in the Quad Cities (Iowa/Illinois border) or the Chicagoland region near Wisconsin. Our calculator handles these nuances.
Take-home pay at common salaries in Illinois
Here is the whole curve for Illinois rather than a single point. Effective tax moves from 19.1% to 27.2% as gross rises, because only the income above each threshold is charged at the higher rate.
Hourly rates in Illinois
Common rates, run through the same Illinois calculation. At $22 an hour and full-time hours, annual take-home lands near $36,683. Overtime and unpaid weeks will move it.
| Hourly | Annual gross | Annual take-home | Net per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| $14/hr | $29,120 | $24,137 | $11.60 |
| $16/hr | $33,280 | $27,273 | $13.11 |
| $22/hr | $45,760 | $36,683 | $17.64 |
| $28/hr | $58,240 | $46,093 | $22.16 |
| $35/hr | $72,800 | $56,441 | $27.14 |
| $45/hr | $93,600 | $70,044 | $33.68 |
Based on 2,080 hours a year — 40 hours a week, 52 weeks. Excludes overtime and unpaid leave.
How filing status changes it
Worth checking before you file: on $60,000, the gap between the best and worst filing status is $2,180 a year. Married filing jointly keeps the most here. Every status has its own deduction amount and its own points at which each bracket begins.
| Filing status | Federal tax | Take-home |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $5,020 | $47,420 |
| Married filing jointly | $2,840 | $49,600 |
| Married filing separately | $5,020 | $47,420 |
| Head of household | $3,948 | $48,492 |
On a $60,000 salary in Illinois.
How accurate is this estimate?
A calculator can only work from what it is told. Yours will differ from this if your W-4 claims dependants or requests extra withholding, if you have pre-tax deductions such as insurance premiums or a 401(k), or if you hold more than one job. Those all change the taxable base before any Illinois rate is applied.
Illinois paycheck questions
Does Chicago have a city income tax?
No. Despite high property and sales taxes, Chicago does not levy a city income tax. The 4.95% flat state rate is the only income tax Illinois workers pay.
Does Illinois have reciprocity with other states?
Yes. Illinois has reciprocal tax agreements with Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, and Wisconsin. If you live in one of those states and work in Illinois, you only pay income tax to your home state.
Can Illinois switch to a graduated tax?
Not without a constitutional amendment. The Illinois Constitution requires a single flat rate. A 2020 ballot measure to change this was defeated with 53% voting No.
How pay frequency changes your cheque
Being paid weekly rather than monthly does not change what you owe. The same salary attracts the same annual tax; only the size of each cheque and the spread of the withholding move. Here is $60,000 a year in Illinois, filing single, at each schedule.
| Paid | Cheques/yr | Gross each | Take-home each |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly | 52 | $1,154 | $912 |
| Every two weeks | 26 | $2,308 | $1,824 |
| Twice a month | 24 | $2,500 | $1,976 |
| Monthly | 12 | $5,000 | $3,952 |
Turn this into a pay stub
If you need the figures written up as a pay stub — for a landlord, a lender, or your own records — you can carry these numbers straight into the generator. It documents what you enter; it is not an employment record issued by an employer.
Open the pay stub generatorIf you need official proof of income
Before generating anything, try the official sources — they are free. Employers are obliged to keep payroll records and can usually reprint stubs, and the IRS issues wage and income transcripts at no charge. A third party can confirm both, which is the point of asking. Get an IRS transcript.