Cook County minimum wage: the July 1 rate and who pays it
A short cheat sheet on the county wage floor for work done in Cook County, with the rates in force in October 2026, the yearly formula, the coverage tests and what applies in Chicago, the suburbs and the collar counties.
Prepared by Prem Tax and Accounting Corp. Last checked against official sources on October 29, 2026.
The Cook County Minimum Wage Ordinance sets a county wage floor for work done in Cook County, enforced by the Commission on Human Rights. Chicago, many suburbs and the collar counties follow other rates. Our Rate-Day Rollcall keeps payroll in step. Official text: Chapter 42, Article I, Division 2 of the County Code.
- Recalculated each July 1: $15.40, or $9.25 tipped, since July 1, 2026 where County law applies.
- Reaches employers with 4 or more employees and a Cook site or County license.
- Chicago pays $17.05, or $12.96 tipped, at 4 or more employees; DuPage, Kane, Will and Kendall generally use the Illinois $15.00 and $9.00.
- Some suburbs opted out, so ask the town. Fines: $500 to $1,000 per offense.
Who it covers
| Group | Covered? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Employers with 4 or more employees, one working in Cook | Yes | Needs a Cook site or County license |
| Adults working in Cook | Yes | 2 hours in any two weeks |
| Contractors, minors, other governments | No | State youth rules cover minors |
| Chicago, opted-out suburbs | No | Own or Illinois rate |
| DuPage, Kane, Will, Kendall | No | Illinois $15.00 generally applies |
The numbers
Checked October 27, 2026, against the Code and the 2026 notice.
| Item | Amount | Year in force |
|---|---|---|
| County, non-tipped; tipped | $15.40; $9.25 | From July 1, 2026 |
| County, both rates | $15.00; $9.00 | From January 1, 2025; kept July 1, 2025 |
| County, non-tipped | $13.70; $14.05 | July 1, 2023; 2024 |
| Illinois, non-tipped; tipped | $15.00; $9.00 | Since January 1, 2025 |
| Chicago, 4 or more employees | $17.05; $12.96 | From July 1, 2026 |
| Fine; time to complain | $500 to $1,000 per offense; 3 years | Current |
Source: Cook County notices
Our checklist
The Rate-Day Rollcall is our four-call check around each July 1.
- Place and count: Chicago, a County-wage town, an opted-out town or another county; 4 or more employees; a Cook site or County license.
- Check the notice: the new rate is posted around June 1; update payroll July 1.
- Check tipped staff: the employer makes up any 7-day tip shortfall.
- Post and keep: notice at Cook sites, with first paychecks and yearly; payroll and tip records for 3 years.
Mistakes people make
- Paying $15.00 after July 1, 2026 in a town that follows the County rate.
- Skipping the July 1 check.
- Treating the 2023 opt-out list as current.
Talk to an attorney about a complaint, a lawsuit or a training wage question.
Common questions
Do very small employers pay the County wage?
Usually not. Employers with 1 to 3 employees are outside it unless they employ a domestic worker.
Does it apply in my suburb?
It depends. The County's 2023 list shows 117 opt-outs and 19 following entries, Chicago among them, and calls itself not definitive. Opted-out towns use their own or the Illinois rate; ask the clerk.
Will the rate change on July 1, 2027?
Not announced. The formula can give no increase, as in 2025, and Illinois has none scheduled. See [Illinois laws](/small-business-laws/illinois/).
Official sources
- Cook County: Minimum Wage Ordinance and Regulations
- Cook County: Minimum Wage Notice to Employers, effective July 1, 2026
- Cook County Commission on Human Rights: Minimum Wage Rules, approved July 1, 2018
- Illinois Department of Labor: Minimum Wage Law
- City of Chicago: Minimum Wage
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