Current Minimum Wage
Cook County (municipalities that have not opted out; unincorporated areas)$15.40since July 1, 2026

County (unincorporated areas) · Illinois

Cook County (municipalities that have not opted out; unincorporated areas) minimum wage

$15.40 an hour as of September 2, 2026. The Illinois state rate is $15.00.

  • The Cook County (municipalities that have not opted out; unincorporated areas) minimum wage is $15.40 an hour (non-tipped employees), effective .
  • That is $0.40 above the Illinois state rate of $15.00 and $8.15 above the federal $7.25.
  • 2 tiers apply: non-tipped employees $15.40; tipped employees (cash wage) $9.25.
  • The next change is : an indexed adjustment, amount to be announced.
  • Coverage: Employees working 2+ hours in a 2-week period in Cook County outside Chicago, in unincorporated areas and in municipalities that have NOT opted out (most suburbs have opted out); youth under 18 not covered (state...

Rates and tiers

TierRateSince
non-tipped employees$15.40
tipped employees (cash wage)$9.25

Indexing

Yes
CPI (capped 2.5%), floor = higher of federal/state minimum; suspended when Cook County... adjusts 07-01 announced Cook County Commission on Human Rights cap 2.5%

Tipped

$9.25
Tip credit allowed; tipped cash wage $9.25 (60% of $15.40) effective 2026-07-01, above the state's $9.00; employer makes up any shortfall.

Ordinance

Cook County Code of Ordinances ch. 42, art
Ordinance text · Cook County Commission on Human Rights (312-603-1100)

Scheduled increases

July 1, 20271 jurisdiction
CountyTBA
Cook County (municipalities that have not opted out; unincorporated areas), ILnon-tipped · indexed-unannounced · Greatest of federal, Illinois, or CPI-adjusted county rate; CPI step skipped if county unemployment is 8.5%+.
TBAindexed, amount to be announced

Overtime minimums per county page: $23.10 non-tipped, $16.94 tipped. Berkeley inventory notes a majority of Cook County municipalities have opted out; check the municipality.

Common questions

What is the Cook County (municipalities that have not opted out; unincorporated areas) minimum wage?

$15.40 an hour for non-tipped employees, effective July 1, 2026.

Is the Cook County (municipalities that have not opted out; unincorporated areas) minimum wage higher than the Illinois state minimum wage?

Yes, by $0.40: $15.40 versus $15.00.

When does the Cook County (municipalities that have not opted out; unincorporated areas) minimum wage change next?

On July 1, 2027, by an indexed amount to be announced.

Sources

  1. https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/minimum-wage-ordinance-and-regulations official
  2. https://labor.illinois.gov/laws-rules/fls/minimum-wage-law.html official
  3. https://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/inventory-of-us-city-and-county-minimum-wage-ordinances/

Checked 2026-09-02; researcher confidence 0.90.