Illinois Gig Driver Pay Calculator (2026)

The app shows gross pay. This shows what an Illinois driver actually keeps after the car, the IRS — and Springfield's flat 4.95%.

Gross hourly
Vehicle cost (72.5¢/mi)
Self-employment tax
Est. federal income tax
Est. IL state tax (4.95%)
Your TRUE hourly pay

Tracking every mile is worth real money

At 72.5¢/mi, a driver logging 15,000 miles/year deducts $10,875 from taxable income. A mileage tracking app does it automatically. Compare mileage trackers →

How this calculator works

Your true hourly pay is what's left after costs the apps never show. We subtract vehicle cost at the 2026 IRS standard mileage rate of 72.5¢ per mile, then self-employment tax (15.3% on 92.35% of profit), federal income tax at your bracket, and Illinois' flat 4.95% state income tax. Flat means flat: a part-time Saturday dasher and a 60-hour-a-week full-timer pay the same Illinois rate, and there's no city income tax in Chicago on top.

No pay floor — the proposed Chicago ordinance didn't pass

A Chicago rideshare minimum-pay ordinance (per-mile + per-minute floors) was proposed in 2025 but tabled in committee — it is not in effect. So unlike NYC or Seattle, Illinois pay is purely what the offers add up to, which makes declining weak offers your only real leverage. Watch the per-mile readout above: $2/mile earned is strong; under $1/mile, your car is eating most of your pay.

The Chicagoland pattern: dense city, sprawling suburbs

Inside Chicago, deliveries are short but slow (traffic, parking, winter). Out in the suburbs and downstate, miles per order balloon. Both fail differently: city driving costs time, suburban driving costs 72.5¢ every mile. Run a week of each through the calculator and compare your true hourly — most Illinois drivers are surprised which one wins.

Also see: mileage deduction calculator and quarterly tax calculator.

FAQ

How much do gig drivers really make in Illinois?

Gross $16–25/hour is common in Chicagoland, but after vehicle costs (72.5¢/mi), 15.3% self-employment tax, federal income tax, and Illinois' 4.95% flat tax, realistic net is often $9–16/hour depending on miles driven per dollar earned.

Does Chicago have a local income tax or a gig driver pay floor?

No on both. Chicago has no city income tax, and a proposed rideshare minimum-pay ordinance was tabled in 2025 and is not in effect — so Illinois driver pay is whatever the offers add up to, with no guaranteed floor.

Do Illinois gig drivers pay state income tax?

Yes. Illinois taxes self-employment income at a flat 4.95% regardless of income level. Your mileage deduction reduces both federal and Illinois taxable income, so tracking every mile pays off twice.

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Estimates for educational purposes only — not tax, legal, or financial advice. State rules and rates change; consult a tax professional about your situation.