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Illinois and Cook County's minimum wage set to increase in January 2025

Beginning in 2025, the state and county's minimum wage will officially increase

A vendor counts US dollar banknotes during a food wholesale event at Plaza Centenario in Quezaltepeque, La Libertad department, El Salvador, on Tuesday, July 9, 2024. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said during a televised cabinet meeting over the weekend that food importers, wholesalers and retailers must lower prices or face criminal investigations for alleged bribery, tax evasion and contraband smuggling. Photographer: Camilo Freedman/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Illinois and Cook County's minimum wage will soon go up once again.

Beginning in 2025, the state and county's minimum wage will officially increase to $15 an hour for non-tipped employees. Tipped employees will increase to $9 an hour.

"Cook County’s minimum wage is determined by whichever is higher in any given year: the Federal minimum wage, Illinois State minimum wage, or a rate calculated by the County using the Consumer Price Index (CPI)," the county said in a release.

The increase is separate from Chicago's minimum wage, however. The city's minimum wage changes in July each year and is currently at $16.20 an hour for non-tipped workers.

"This change reflects Cook County’s commitment to advancing health and wealth equity through labor protections that safeguard the County’s most vulnerable workers," the county said in a release.

County employees are covered by minimum wage ordinance if: 

  • They are over the age of 18 and work for an employer in Cook County for at least two hours in any two-week period, and 
  • The employer has four or more employees (or employs domestic workers), and 
  • The employer maintains a business facility in Cook County or is issued a business license by Cook County. 
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