In Illinois, you have the right to earn a minimum wage per hour worked. Which minimum wage applies to you depends on the county and municipality where you work. 

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ILLINOIS-MANDATED MINIMUM WAGE: 

Illinois guarantees a minimum wage of $15 per hour to all employees working for an employer with four employees or more, excluding the employer's parent, spouse, child, or immediate family member. There are a handful of very specific exemptions to minimum wage. You may contact us to discuss whether these apply to you. 

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COOK COUNTY-MANDATED MINIMUM WAGE: 

Cook County also guarantees a minimum wage of $15 per hour to all employees who on any particular two-week period, perform at least two hours of work for an employer employing at least four employees other than their immediate family members while physically present within the geographic boundaries of Cook County. However, many municipalities have decided to opt out of this requirement, leaving only the state-mandated minimum wage as a base requirement.

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CHICAGO-MANDATED MINIMUM WAGE: 

Chicago also guarantees a minimum wage of  $16.20 per hour to all employees who work at least 80 hours for an employer employing at least four employees other than their immediate family members within any 120-day period while physically present within the geographic boundaries of the city. Once the threshold is reached, the employee remains protected by the Chicago Minimum Wage Ordinance for the remainder of the time that the employee works for the employer. 

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For purposes of the Chicago and Cook County minimum wage ordinances, time spent traveling in the city or county, respectively, that is compensated time, including, but not limited to, deliveries, sales calls, and travel related to other business activity taking place within the city or county, constitutes work subject to the minimum wage requirements while physically present within the geographic boundaries of the city or county.

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