Hotel Living Wage: Arlington Heights vs Chicago
How do hotel living wage rules compare between Arlington Heights, IL and Chicago, IL?
Arlington Heights and Chicago have similar restriction levels.
Arlington Heights, IL
Cook County
Cook County Procurement Living Wage Ordinance (Ord. 16-O-50, Ch. 34 Art. IV) requires county contractors and concessionaires to pay at least the Cook County minimum wage adjusted upward annually. Pure private hotels with no county contract are not covered.
View full Arlington Heights rules →Chicago, IL
Cook County
Chicago has no hotel-specific living wage like Los Angeles. General minimum wage under MCC 1-24 reaches $16.20 per hour for large employers as of July 2024, indexed annually. Tipped hotel workers receive a separate, lower base wage plus tips under the same ordinance.
View full Chicago rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Arlington Heights | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | Ord. 16-O-50, Ch. 34 | - |
| Threshold | Contracts over $25,000 | - |
| Wage floor 2024 | $14.05 per hour | - |
| Coverage | Contractors, concessionaires | - |
| Hotel-specific wage | - | None in Chicago |
| General code | - | MCC 1-24 |
| Large employer wage 2024 | - | $16.20 per hour |
| Tipped base | - | About $11.02 per hour |
| Enforcer | - | BACP Office of Labor Standards |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Arlington Heights FAQ
Does Cook living wage apply to private hotels?
Only if the hotel holds a Cook County contract or operates a concession on county property. Standalone private hotels follow Illinois ($14/hr) or Chicago ($16.20/hr) minimum wage instead.
How is the living wage updated each year?
It tracks the Cook County Minimum Wage, which adjusts every July 1 based on CPI under Ord. 16-O-34. The Inspector General publishes the current rate online.
Chicago FAQ
Is there a Chicago hotel minimum wage?
No. Chicago has no hotel-specific wage. All employers including hotels follow the general MCC 1-24 minimum wage, $16.20 per hour for large employers and a separate tipped rate around $11.02 plus tips.
How does Chicago compare to Los Angeles?
Los Angeles requires $20.32 per hour for hotel workers at 60-plus room properties, rising to $30 by 2028. Chicago applies its general minimum wage uniformly across industries with no hotel premium.
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