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Cook County's Commission on Human Rights has issued a notice to employees regarding the Cook County Minimum Wage Ordinance (MWO). The minimum wage will remain at $15.00 for non-tipped workers and $9.00 for tipped workers, effective July 1, 2025.
The MWO establishes the minimum legal pay employers must provide to their employees. It applies to hourly, salaried, and tipped employees over the age of 18 working in Cook County, including those making deliveries or driving within county limits.
The county's minimum wage is determined by comparing the Federal minimum wage, Illinois State minimum wage, and a calculation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This year, since the unemployment rate did not exceed 8.5%, Cook County's calculation was applicable.
Employees are covered by the MWO if they have worked for an employer in Cook County for at least two hours in any two-week period, if their employer has four or more employees (or if they are domestic workers), and if their employer maintains a business facility in Cook County or holds a business license from Cook County.
Employees suspecting that they are not receiving the required minimum wage should first check with their municipality to ensure it does not have its own minimum wage. If not, they can file a complaint with the Cook County Commission on Human Rights using its online complaint form. Additional information and translated forms are available on the Commission’s website.
Ordinance No. 16-5768 was enacted by the Cook County Board of Commissioners on October 26, 2016.
