Cook County issues notice to Minimum Wage Ordinance

Budget and Financial

Cook County—Today, the Commission on Human Rights (“the Commission”) issued a notice to employees regarding the Cook County Minimum Wage Ordinance (“MWO”). 

Effective July 1, 2024, the Cook County minimum wage will increase to $14.05 for non-tipped workers. It will remain $8.40 for tipped employees.  

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

Cook County’s minimum wage is 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 MWO (Sec. 42-13) and rules (Sec. 2.04), Cook County’s minimum wage calculation may not be used when the unemployment rate in Cook County is 8.5% or greater. This year, the unemployment rate did not exceed 8.5%.  The April CPI exceeded the inflationary cap, so the 2.5% cap rate was used. 

Employees are covered by the Cook County MWO if: 

  • The employee has worked for an employer in Cook County for at least 2 hours in any two-week period, and 
  • The employer has four or more employees (or the employee is a domestic worker), and 
  • The employer maintains a business facility in Cook County or is issued a business license by Cook County. 

Employees who believe their employer is not paying the required minimum wage should first refer to the municipality in which they work to ensure the municipality does not have its own minimum wage. If the municipality has not opted out of the MWO, employees can file a complaint with the Cook County Commission on Human Rights. The minimum wage complaint form and additional information can be accessed on the Commission’s website. 

Ordinance No. 16-5768 (MWO) was passed by the Cook County Board of Commissioners on October 26, 2016.

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