Cook County, IL Minimum Wage 2026 and 2027

Not announced yet. Each year on July 1 the county Commission on Human Rights may adjust the rate to the greatest of the federal rate, the Illinois rate or the county's own Consumer Price Index calculation, and the county rules say it announces any CPI-based increase on or about June 1. The county calculation may not be used when the Cook County unemployment rate is 8.5 percent or greater.

Every July 1 the Commission may adjust the rate to the greatest of the federal minimum wage, the Illinois minimum wage or the county calculation using the Consumer Price Index, unless the county unemployment rate is 8.5 percent or greater.

Tipped employees have a cash wage of $9.25 per hour from July 1, 2026. If, over any seven-day period, a tipped employee's tips plus tipped wages are less than the full minimum wage, the employer must pay the difference. The county overtime rates are $23.10 for non-tipped and $16.94 for tipped employees.

The county notice says you are covered if you worked for an employer in Cook County for at least 2 hours in any 2-week period, your employer has 4 or more employees (or you are a domestic worker), and your employer maintains a business facility in Cook County or holds a county business license. The county FAQ says 2 hours per week for employers in the county, so confirm the threshold with the Commission.

The ordinance covers hourly, salaried and tipped employees over the age of 18, including people making deliveries or driving within the county. It does not apply to independent contractors.

Chicago has its own ordinance (see the Chicago page). A municipality that has passed its own minimum wage uses that wage, and certain municipalities have opted out of the county ordinance. The county posted a list in June 2023 that names the suburbs that follow the county rate, such as Evanston, Oak Park and Skokie, and the suburbs that opted out; the county says the list changes frequently, so check with your city, township or village.

• Employees under 18 are not covered by the county rate; the Illinois Minimum Wage Act requires teenage workers to be paid $13.00 per hour, with annual increases.
• New employees may be paid up to 50 cents less than the county rate during the first 90 days of employment. The exception does not apply to day laborers, temporary or seasonal workers.
• The county rules also exclude employees under a bona fide collective bargaining agreement under the conditions in Rule 4.01 of the rules, subsidized youth and transitional employment programs, camp counselors, learners licensed by the Illinois Commission of Labor, workers whose earning capacity is impaired by age or disability, agricultural and aquaculture workers, outside salespersons, members of a religious organization and students employed at the Illinois college they attend.