How much has the metro-east’s living wage gone up for 2026? See data by county

In the past three years, the increasing cost of living has significantly driven up Illinois’ minimum living wage, or the amount needed to pay for necessities, and some metro-east counties have been affected more than others.

The national cost for all items is up 2.4% over the past 12 months, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Food costs are up 2.9% over the same period, while energy services are up 7.2%.

Housing costs are up 3% across the nation, the federal agency reports, and the average monthly rent in Illinois is $1,810, according to popular housing site Zillow. The rent calculation includes all property types and sizes for those listed on the site.

The average gas price in Illinois is $3.603 per gallon as of March 10, while Missouri’s is $3.025, according to auto club AAA.

Illinois’ minimum wage is $15 an hour for nontipped workers and $9 for tipped employees, more than double the federal minimum, although some workers are still legally paid less. Missouri’s non-tipped minimum wage has also recently reached $15.

But despite its relatively high minimum wage compared to other states, working full-time at the minimum wage is not nearly enough to live on in Illinois, according to one calculation.

The statewide minimum living wage in Illinois is $24.42 per hour for a single adult without children and $23.92 each for a couple of working adults with one child. These figures are courtesy of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Living Wage Calculator, which looks at compensation for spots across the nation.

These numbers have increased by $1.56 and $1.80, respectively, compared to early 2025. That equates to an annual salary increase needed of $3,244.80 or $3,744 to afford the same standard of living for a resident working full-time.

Living wages in southwest Illinois

In November 2023, St. Clair County had a living wage of $16.50 for a single adult with no children and $19.06 each for a couple of working adults with one child, the News-Democrat previously reported.

Here are the hourly wage residents of metro-east counties need to make to afford basic living expenses, according to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator:

St. Clair County:

• $21.54 for a single adult with no children (this has increased by $5.04 per hour since November 2023) 
• $37.14 for a single adult with one child 
• $47.41 for a single adult with two children 
• $14.85 each for two working adults and no children 
• $21.48 each for two working adults and one child (up by $2.42 since November 2023) 
• $25.91 each for two working adults and two children

Madison County:

• $21.29 for a single adult with no children (up by $4.79 per hour since November 2023) 
• $38.31 for a single adult with one child 
• $50.82 for a single adult with two children 
• $14.71 each for two working adults and no children 
• $22.07 each for two working adults and one child (up by $2.88 since November 2023) 
• $27.40 each for two working adults and two children

Monroe County:

• $22.14 for a single adult with no children (up by $5.64 per hour since November 2023) 
• $37.58 for a single adult with one child 
• $48.52 for a single adult with two children 
• $15.24 each for two working adults and no children 
• $21.84 each for two working adults and one child (up by $2.83 since November 2023) 
• $26.51 each for two working adults and two children

Bond County:

• $20.20 for a single adult with no children (up by $4.93 per hour since November 2023) 
• $36.19 for a single adult with one child 
• $48.48 for a single adult with two children 
• $14.83 each for two working adults and no children 
• $21.11 each for two working adults and one child (up by $3.12 since November 2023) 
• $26.44 each for two working adults and two children

Clinton County:

• $21.77 for a single adult with no children (up by $5.27 per hour since November 2023) 
• $36.27 for a single adult with one child 
• $46.74 for a single adult with two children 
• $14.97 each for two working adults and no children 
• $21.16 each for two working adults and one child (up by $2.52 since November 2023) 
• $25.70 each for two working adults and two children

Washington County:

• $20.71 for a single adult with no children (up by $4.84 per hour since November 2023) 
• $37.20 for a single adult with one child 
• $49.26 for a single adult with two children 
• $15.12 each for two working adults and no children 
• $21.68 each for two working adults and one child (up by $3.54 since November 2023) 
• $26.83 each for two working adults and two children

Randolph County:

• $19.69 for a single adult with no children (up by $4.65 per hour since November 2023) 
• $36.84 for a single adult with one child 
• $49 for a single adult with two children 
• $13.97 each for two working adults and no children 
• $21.33 each for two working adults and one child (up by $3.12 since November 2023) 
• $26.58 each for two working adults and two children

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Meredith Howard

Belleville News-Democrat

Meredith Howard is a service journalist with the Belleville News-Democrat. She is a Baylor University graduate and has previously freelanced with the Illinois Times and the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Support my work with a digital subscription