Reminder - Minimum Wage and Tipped Wage Rates in Chicago, Cook County, State of Illinois
Starting July 1, 2021, the following minimum wage and tipped wage rates are in effect for the city of Chicago, Cook County, and state of Illinois.
Please review the below information and plan accordingly for your business.
City of Chicago*
- Current minimum wage - $14.00
- Current tipped wage - $8.40
- Minimum wage starting July 1, 2021 - $15.00
- Tipped wage starting July 1, 2021 - $9.00
Click here for more information on the city of Chicago's minimum wage law.
*Effective July 1, 2021, small employers (4-20 employees) in the city of Chicago are required to pay employees a minimum wage of $14.00 and a tipped wage of $8.40.
Cook County**
The minimum wage for employees in Cook County will not increase on July 1, 2021. 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 County's Minimum Wage ordinance and rules, the County’s minimum wage calculation may not be used when the unemployment rate in Cook County is 8.5% or greater. The unemployment rate in Cook County for the previous year was equal to or greater than 8.5%. Therefore, the minimum wage will remain at $13.00 per hour for non-tipped employees. The minimum wage for tipped workers increased earlier this year to $6.60 per hour, in alignment with the state of Illinois' minimum wage.
Click here for more information on Cook County's minimum wage law.
**More than 100 municipalities within Cook County opted out of Cook County's minimum wage ordinance. Please check with your local authorities to confirm whether or not this law applies to your business. If your municipality has opted out of Cook County's minimum wage ordinance, you must follow the state of Illinois' minimum wage law.
State of Illinois
The state of Illinois' minimum wage and tipped wage rates are not slated to increase until January 1, 2022.
- Current minimum wage - $11.00
- Current tipped wage - $6.60
Click here for more information on the state of Illinois' minimum wage law.