These Cook County minimum wage rules apply to hours worked in Cook County by covered workers. Kane, DuPage, Will and Kendall counties pay the Illinois rate, and Chicago has its own ordinance. The overview explains coverage.
What the Cook County minimum wage rules require
| Topic | What the ordinance and the Commission's Rules say |
|---|---|
| County rate | At least the County rate for each hour worked in Cook County. |
| Tipped workers | The County tipped rate, plus a top-up to the full minimum wage if tips fall short in any 7-day period. |
| Overtime | For overtime-eligible staff, no less than 1.5 times the County minimum; see the FLSA page. |
| Notice | Post the County notice; give it with the first paycheck and yearly. |
| Records | Three years of payroll records expected; tipped-employee records required for 3 years. |
| Protection | No retaliation. |
Key numbers and dates
| Item | Figure | Year |
|---|---|---|
| County rates, non-tipped / tipped | $15.40 / $9.25 | Starting July 1, 2026 |
| County, non-tipped, July 1 | $13.00, then $13.35, $13.70 and $14.05 | 2021 to 2024 |
| Illinois rates, non-tipped / tipped | $15.00 / $9.00 | Since January 1, 2025 |
| Yearly formula | Under the Rules, price change (CPI) applied to the highest of the Illinois, federal or County rates; the result is rounded up to $0.05 and capped at 2.5%; none if Cook unemployment is 8.5% or more | Each July 1 |
| Fine | $500 to $1,000 per offense, each day separate | 2026 |
| Private suit; complaint deadline | Three times the underpayment plus costs and fees; 3 years | 2026 |
Source: Cook County notices
Recent changes and pending items
- January 1, 2025: the County rate rose to $15.00 ($9.00 tipped), matching the state, and stayed there on July 1, 2025.
- July 1, 2026: $15.40 ($9.25 tipped).
- Illinois law has no increase scheduled for 2026 or 2027.
The July-Lamp Wage Relay: a seven-step checklist
- Map sites: Chicago, Cook towns that follow or opted out, or Kane, DuPage, Will and Kendall.
- Confirm coverage: 4 employees in total, and a Cook facility or County license.
- Ask each village clerk which wage the town follows; note the date.
- Around June 1 watch for the County notice; on July 1 check payroll rates.
- Top up tipped workers to the full minimum wage in each 7-day period.
- Post the notice; give it with the first paycheck and yearly.
- Keep 3 years of payroll and tipped-employee records.
Common mistakes
- Paying less than the County rate where the town follows it.
- Overlooking the July 1 check or the new notice.
- Skipping the 7-day tipped top-up.
- Assuming Chicago staff get the County rate.
When to bring in an attorney
- Whether a town has opted out, or sets its own higher wage.
- A Commission complaint or a suit seeking treble damages.
- Training-wage questions, given the conflict above.
- Employee-versus-contractor disputes.
How we can help
We handle the U.S. payroll rates, tipped-wage records and accounting side, working with your attorney, Canadian CPA or Indian CA. See payroll and employer compliance and bookkeeping and accounting.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cook County minimum wage $15.00 or $15.40?
Where the County rate applies, $15.40 since July 1, 2026. It stayed at $15.00 on July 1, 2025.
Do Kane or DuPage employers pay the County rate?
How is the yearly rate set?
By formula, capped at 2.5%, each July 1. It can stay flat.
Do tipped workers get only the tipped wage?
No. The employer pays any shortfall up to the full minimum wage for each 7-day period.
Official sources
- Cook County: Minimum Wage Ordinance and Regulations
- Cook County: Minimum Wage Notice to Employers, effective July 1, 2026
- Cook County: Minimum Wage Ordinance Rules, approved July 1, 2018
- Cook County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 42, Division 2 Minimum Wage (Municode)
- Illinois Department of Labor: Minimum Wage Law
This page summarizes public guidance in plain language. If anything here differs from the official source, the official source controls.