Minimum wage in Cook County, Illinois in 2026
The minimum wage in Cook County is $15.40 an hour, $0.40 more than the Illinois minimum wage of $15.00. The next rate has not been announced yet.
Checked against official sources.
Cook County minimum wage at a glance
- An hour
- $15.40
- A week, 40 hours
- $616.00
- A year, 2,080 hours
- $32,032
That is $16.00 more a week and $832 more a year than the Illinois minimum wage of $15.00, for someone working full time.
Who it covers
Workers 18 and older who work at least 2 hours a week in Cook County for an employer with a business there. It does not apply in Chicago, which has its own rate, or in towns that opted out.
- New workers. Employers can pay up to 50 cents less for the first 90 days, but not to day laborers, temporary or seasonal workers
Tipped workers
Employers in Cook County can pay tipped workers as little as $9.25 an hour in cash, counting up to $6.15 an hour in tips, as long as tips bring them up to $15.40. Wages plus tips must reach $15.40 over each seven-day period.
Cook County minimum wage over time
| Starting | Rate |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | $15.40now |
Cook County adjusts the rate every July 1 by inflation, up to 2.5%, or to the state or federal rate if higher. It skips the raise when county unemployment is 8.5% or more.
Other local minimum wages in Illinois
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the official pages below. Checked .
- Cook County issues notice to Minimum Wage Ordinance, Cook County, updated
- Minimum Wage Ordinance and Regulations, Cook County Commission on Human Rights
- Minimum Wage Law, Illinois Department of Labor
Laws change. If your pay is below these rates, contact your state labor department or the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at 1-866-487-9243.