Chicago & Cook County minimum wage + Fair Workweek updates July 1, 2026—who’s covered

Paychecks and work schedules for many Chicago-area workers are getting a July 1, 2026 reset. On that date, minimum wage rates rise for employers in Chicago and in parts of suburban Cook County, and Chicago’s Fair Workweek ordinance updates its coverage thresholds—changing which workers in certain industries get schedule protections.

Because the rules depend on where the work happens and the worker’s tipped vs. non-tipped status, the most useful first step is to confirm the jurisdiction tied to your work location and job.

Minimum wage: Chicago vs. suburban Cook County (different rules, different rates)

Chicago (city rules): The City of Chicago minimum wage increases for employers with four or more workers. For non-tipped workers, the minimum hourly wage rises from $16.60 to $17.05. For tipped workers (like restaurant servers and bartenders), the tipped minimum rises from $12.62 to $12.96. The city also says overtime rates for tipped and non-tipped workers are set to increase starting July 1.

Suburban Cook County (county rules): Cook County’s minimum wage increases for covered employers outside the City of Chicago. As of July 1, 2026, the county sets:

• Non-tipped workers: $15.40/hour for standard work hours and $23.10/hour for overtime hours.
• Tipped workers: $9.25/hour for standard work hours and $16.94/hour for overtime hours.

Cook County also notes important tipped-worker mechanics: if a tipped worker’s tips plus tipped wages don’t reach the required minimum wage, the employer must make up the difference (measured over a seven-day period).

What to check right now: Look at your pay stub for (1) your base wage rate, (2) whether you’re being treated as tipped or non-tipped, and (3) whether overtime is calculated using the higher overtime minimum wage when applicable.

One more jurisdiction detail: Cook County emphasizes that its minimum wage does not apply to the City of Chicago, and municipalities inside Cook County may have their own local minimum wage rules. So even if you commute “in Cook County,” the rate can differ depending on where your workplace sits.

Fair Workweek in Chicago: what changes starting July 1, 2026

Chicago’s Fair Workweek ordinance protects workers in specific industries and under specific conditions. Illinois Legal Aid Online explains the coverage basics and the changes that begin July 1, 2026.

Who is covered (industry focus): Workers are covered if they work in one of these industries: building services, healthcare, hotels, manufacturing, restaurants, retail, and warehouse services.

Who might be newly covered because of the July 1 income threshold update: Fair Workweek includes income-limit thresholds. Illinois Legal Aid Online says the income limits increase beginning July 1, 2026 to $33.85 per hour or $64,945.55 per year (up from lower limits through June 30, 2026). If you’re in a covered industry and your employer meets the other Fair Workweek conditions, this higher income ceiling can expand coverage to some workers who were just above the prior cutoff.

Other coverage conditions still matter: Illinois Legal Aid Online also lists exclusions and employer-size thresholds. Coverage does not apply, for example, if you work ticketed events, have a collective bargaining agreement, work for the City of Chicago, work primarily outside Chicago, or work for an employer that’s not a restaurant and has less than 100 employees (less than 250 employees for nonprofits) or less than 50 covered employees.

What Fair Workweek schedule protections look like in practice

If you are covered, Illinois Legal Aid Online describes core rights that show up in your schedule:

• Advance notice: Employers must give workers a written good-faith estimate of their work schedule for the first 90 days. For the actual schedule, you must receive 14 days advance written notice, including identifying any on-call shifts.
• Predictability Pay for certain changes: If you agree to a shift change made less than 14 days from the start of the schedule, you’re entitled to Predictability Pay—one hour of pay extra for each qualifying change. Schedule changes of 15 minutes or less don’t require Predictability Pay.
• Shift cancellations or changes within 24 hours: If your employer changes your schedule or cancels a whole shift within 24 hours of the start of the shift, you’re entitled to half of what you would have made if you worked.
• Rest between shifts: You can decline an offer to work a shift scheduled less than 10 hours after the end of your previous shift. If you accept, you should be paid 1.25 times what you normally make—unless the hours are overtime hours, in which case you should be paid the overtime rate.
• Retaliation protection: Employers cannot retaliate for exercising ordinance rights.

If something doesn’t look right: where to file

For minimum wage or other workplace-law issues, Illinois Department of Labor guidance explains the key routing based on where the work took place:

• If your work took place in Chicago, submit a complaint to the Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer Protection Department.
• If your work took place in Cook County, file a complaint with the Cook County Commission on Human Rights.

For Fair Workweek specifically, Illinois Legal Aid Online notes that covered workers can submit a complaint to the Chicago Office of Labor Standards and can also contact 311.

Bottom line: verify the rate and the coverage, then compare your next paycheck and schedule

Starting July 1, 2026, Chicago and suburban Cook County raise minimum wage rates—so workers should verify pay stubs and whether they’re treated as tipped or non-tipped. Chicago also updates Fair Workweek coverage thresholds, which can affect which workers get schedule protections in covered industries. If your pay or schedule doesn’t match what the ordinances require, the “first correct step” is routing your complaint based on where the work happened.

Sources

• Cook County Illinois — Minimum Wage Ordinance and Regulations (effective July 1, 2026 rates and applicability)
• WTTW News — Minimum Wage to Increase in Chicago, Suburban Cook County Starting July 1
• Illinois Legal Aid Online — What are my rights with my work schedule in Chicago?
• Illinois Department of Labor — File a Workplace Complaint

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