Cook County minimum wage
Minimum wage in Cook County, Illinois, in effect since July 1, 2026
$15.40 an hour
Cook County sets its own minimum wage, $0.40 above the Illinois rate of $15.00. Employers in Cook County pay the higher local rate.
Next increase: none announced as of October 9, 2026. Each July 1, the greatest of the federal, Illinois or county CPI-based rate. The CPI calculation is not used when Cook County unemployment is 8.5% or higher.
Tipped employees
Employers in Cook County can pay tipped employees a cash wage of $9.25 an hour, taking a tip credit of up to $6.15, as long as tips bring the employee to at least $15.40 for every hour worked. If they don't, the employer makes up the difference.
Youth and training wages
The county ordinance does not cover employees under 18. Illinois law requires $13.00 an hour for teen workers.
How future increases are set
Each July 1, the greatest of the federal, Illinois or county CPI-based rate. The CPI calculation is not used when Cook County unemployment is 8.5% or higher.
Exceptions and details
- Does not apply in Chicago (own ordinance) or in municipalities that have opted out; most suburbs have opted out, so check the municipality.
- Employers may pay up to $0.50 less than the county minimum during a new employee's first 90 days (not day laborers, temporary or seasonal workers).
- Overtime minimums: $23.10 (non-tipped) and $16.94 (tipped).
Other local minimum wages in Illinois
- Chicago $17.05
Running payroll in Cook County?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- Cook County Commission on Human Rights · data as of July 1, 2026 · last checked October 9, 2026
We copy figures from official sources and re-check them against the source before every update. See our methodology. This is general information, not legal advice.