Minimum wage in Cook County, Illinois
Cook County sets its own minimum wage under its Cook County Minimum Wage Ordinance. The general rate is $15.40 an hour, in effect since ; that is $0.40 above the Illinois rate of $15.00. Future rates are set by formula rather than a published schedule.
Read from Cook County: Minimum Wage Ordinance and Regulations on (page SHA-256 cff159c3c301…). Every figure on this page was found on that page at that time.
Current rates
| Rate per hour | Applies to | In effect since |
|---|---|---|
| $15.40 | All covered employers |
Scheduled changes
The county's page states no dated increase beyond the current rate.
How the rate is adjusted: Adjusted each July 1 by the CPI, capped at 2.5%, and not increased when county unemployment is 8.5% or higher.
Tipped employees
Tipped employees: $9.25 per hour (2026).
What the page also states
- Municipalities in Cook County may opt out; the county page lists the rate for covered areas.
Against the state and federal rates
| Law | Rate |
|---|---|
| Cook County (county ordinance) | $15.40 |
| Illinois (state law) | $15.00 |
| Federal (FLSA) | $7.25 |
Where federal, state and local laws all cover an employer, the highest applicable rate must be paid. Whether a particular job is covered by this ordinance (most apply to hours worked inside the county limits, with a minimum number of hours a week) depends on facts this site does not assess. This page describes published rates and is not legal advice; see FastGuide for how to raise an underpayment.
Related
- Other local rates in Illinois: Chicago.
- All city and county minimum wages and the Illinois minimum wage.
- Illinois wage profile: what occupations actually pay, from BLS data.
- Take-home pay calculator on FastCalc for what $15.40 an hour leaves after withholding; this site computes nothing.