Skilled trades in Illinois, ranked by pay
Of the 5 trades tracked here, the best paid in Illinois is plumbers at a median $99,950 a year. Across all 5, 150,070 people are employed in Illinois. Each row links to the full wage spread for that trade in the state.
| # | Trade | Median annual | Median hourly | 10th–90th | Employed | vs US | State rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plumbers and pipefitters | $99,950 | $48.05 | $50,250 – $126,430 | 16,750 | 57% above | #2 of 51 |
| 2 | Electricians | $99,560 | $47.87 | $49,240 – $123,660 | 23,120 | 58% above | #2 of 51 |
| 3 | HVAC technicians | $77,410 | $37.21 | $46,690 – $117,550 | 9,740 | 27% above | #3 of 51 |
| 4 | Truck drivers (CDL) | $60,320 | $29.00 | $39,710 – $86,300 | 84,200 | 3% above | #15 of 51 |
| 5 | Welders | $51,320 | $24.67 | $38,890 – $76,730 | 16,260 | 5% below | #34 of 51 |
"State rank" is where Illinois places among the 50 states and DC on median pay for that trade — a low number means the state pays well for it. "vs US" compares the Illinois median with the national median for the same trade.
How to get licensed in Illinois: Plumbers and pipefitters · Electricians · HVAC technicians · Truck drivers (CDL) — license tiers, required hours, exam and fees, sourced from the state authority.
Which of these to consider in Illinois
Pay is one input, not the answer. A trade that pays a little less but employs far more people in Illinois can be the easier one to get hired and stay hired in. Weigh the median against the employment column, and against the training time and licensing each trade demands — the parts this page will carry next, once each state's board data is sourced. For now, open a trade to see its full percentile spread and how Illinois ranks against every other state.
Full detail by trade
Plumbers and pipefitters in Illinois · Electricians in Illinois · HVAC technicians in Illinois · Truck drivers (CDL) in Illinois · Welders in Illinois
Or compare these trades nationally on the trade ranking, or pick another state from the state list.
Licensing requirements, apprenticeship programs, training cost and time-to-journeyman in Illinois are being collected from state sources and will appear on this page once sourced and cited. The pay and employment figures here are the May 2025 BLS estimates; see how the numbers are built.