In Peoria, Illinois, starting in 2025, the state’s minimum wage will rise to $15 an hour for workers and $9 an hour for tipped servers.
This increase marks the completion of a six-year transition that began in 2019 when the minimum wage was set at $8.25. The change is a result of the 2019 legislation signed by Governor JB Pritzker, a significant achievement during his first term.
While some business owners, like Kelleher’s Irish Pub & Eatery’s Sean Sullivan, argue that minimum wage rates should be determined locally rather than statewide, the increase will likely lead to higher costs for businesses, especially in the restaurant industry.
Sullivan expressed concern that the new wage requirement could drive up meal prices and ultimately harm businesses, particularly in downstate Illinois, where he believes the higher wages might not be necessary to attract talent.
As Illinois joins just ten states with a $15 minimum wage, business owners will need to adjust their pricing structures to maintain profitability while meeting the new labor costs.