Minimum Wage Comparison
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Illinois vs South Dakota: Minimum Wage

Illinois has a higher minimum wage than South Dakota by $4.

Illinois flag
Illinois
IL • Midwest
Winner
$15.00/hr
State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).
South Dakota flag
South Dakota
SD • Midwest
$11.20/hr
State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).

Visual Comparison

Illinois $15.00/hr
South Dakota $11.20/hr

Difference: $4 — Illinois leads.

Related Context

Minimum Wage in Context

A minimum wage only makes sense relative to what things cost and what the local market actually pays.

What This Means

Illinois vs South Dakota: Minimum Wage in context

Illinois has a minimum wage of $15.00/hr, compared with $11.20/hr in South Dakota, a gap of 33.9%. State minimum wage in U.S. dollars per hour (U.S. Department of Labor, updated January 1, 2026).

Illinois
$15.00/hr
South Dakota
$11.20/hr
Difference
$4

People Also Ask

Illinois vs South Dakota Minimum Wage — Common Questions

Q What is Illinois's minimum wage?

Illinois's minimum wage is $15.00/hr.

Q What is South Dakota's minimum wage?

South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.20/hr.

Q Which state has a higher minimum wage — Illinois or South Dakota?

Illinois has a higher minimum wage than South Dakota by $4.

Q How much more minimum wage does Illinois have compared to South Dakota?

$4.

Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.