Minimum Wage Ordinance and Regulations

The MWO sets the lowest amount an employer must legally pay their employees. Each year the minimum wage increases according to a formula set by the Ordinance.

The Ordinance applies to hourly, salaried, and tipped employees, over the age of 18, working in Cook County, even those who may be working within the County to make deliveries or driving within the County limits.

There are exceptions to the categories of employees covered by the Ordinance.

Every year on July 1, the Commission may adjust the minimum wage based on the greatest rate among the Federal minimum wage, Illinois State minimum wage, or on the County’s calculation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Pursuant to the Minimum Wage Ordinance (MWO) (Sec. 42-13) and rules (Sec. 2.04), the Cook County minimum wage calculation may not be used when the unemployment rate in Cook County is 8.5% or greater. In the event that the Cook County unemployment rate exceeds 8.5%, the minimum wage is set to the greatest of the Federal, Illinois State or Cook County's minimum wage.

Beginning July 1, 2025, the minimum wage for non-tipped workers will remain $15 per hour for standard work hours and $22.50 per hour for overtime hours (in compliance with State Law). The minimum wage for tipped workers will remain $9 per hour for standard work hours and $16.50 per hour for overtime hours (in compliance with State Law).

The Ordinance does not apply to employees under the age of 18 years. However, the Illinois Minimum Wage Act requires teenage workers to be paid a minimum wage of $13.00 per hour, with annual increases. 

No, the City of Chicago has its own MWO. Click here for a link to the information on the City’s ordinance.

No, if a municipality has passed their own minimum wage (like the City of Chicago) then the municipality’s minimum wage applies to employers located within or doing business in the municipality. If the municipality has not enacted their own minimum wage, the County’s MWO applies. Certain municipalities in Cook County have opted out of the MWO. The list of municipalities that do not follow the MWO changes frequently. Please check with the local city, township, or village to confirm whether your municipality has adopted the MWO. 

Yes, generally, the Ordinance requires all employers that are located within Cook County and gainfully employ any person(s) within the boundaries of the County for at least 2 hours per week to comply with the County minimum wage.

Yes, the Ordinance applies to tipped employees. The minimum wage for tipped employees is $9.00.

The MWO does not apply to independent contractors.

Employers may choose to pay a reduced wage of no more than $ .50 less than the County's minimum wage during the first 90 days of an employee's start date of employment (or new employee training period). After the 90-day period, however, employers are required to pay employees the County's full minimum wage.

*Note that this exception does not apply to day laborers, temporary, or seasonal workers. These workers must be paid the County’s minimum wage during the entire duration of employment.

You should first check to see if the municipality where you work has a different minimum wage. If the municipality has not opted out of the MWO, you can file a file a Complaint with the Cook County Human Rights Commission (see Q7 above). Complaints for violations of the Minimum Wage Ordinance can be filed using the Commission’s online complaint form. Translated complaint forms and additional information can be found online here.

If you have any questions about the complaint process. we encourage you to make an appointment to speak with an investigator. The Commission can be reached Monday through Friday from 8:30a.m. to 4:30p.m., by telephone at 312-603-1100 or email at human.rights@cookcountyil.gov.

The Human Rights Commission does not provide lawyers or legal advice. Our investigators conduct neutral fact-finding investigations, which include gathering information and conducting interviews to determine if a violation of the MWO has occurred.

Please note that individuals may obtain legal advice and assistance filing complaints with the Commission from nonprofit organizations that handle employment issues in Cook County.

The Commission may order employers found to have violated the Cook County Minimum Wage Ordinance to provide complainants a remedy, which may include the following:

• Pay back wages
• Reinstate a wrongfully terminated complainant
• Give a required notice or make a required posting of the minimum wage
• Disqualify a respondent from receiving County benefits including licensing and property tax incentives.

• Paying employees less than the applicable minimum wage.
• Confiscating gratuities of tipped employees.
• Charging employees counterfeit fees payable to the employer as a way of reducing their effective hourly rate of pay.
• Failing to notify employees of their rights under the Cook County Minimum Wage Ordinance.
• Firing an employee who is considering or has filed a Minimum Wage complaint or otherwise cooperating with a Commission investigation.