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Electricians in Illinois: what they earn
Electricians in Illinois earned a median $99,560 a year in May 2025, $47.87 an hour. 23,120 people held the job, 3.8 for every 1,000 jobs in the state. That median is 58% above the national figure of $63,190, and Illinois ranks 2 of 51 by pay for this trade.
How to become an electrician in Illinois — license tiers, required hours, exam and fees, sourced from No statewide Illinois electrician license; licensed by municipality (the City of Chicago shown as the main example). ↓
The full wage spread in Illinois
| Point | Hourly | Annual | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $23.67 | $49,240 | A tenth of the workforce earns less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $35.35 | $73,520 | A quarter earn less. |
| Median | $47.87 | $99,560 | Half earn less, half earn more. |
| 75th percentile | $56.47 | $117,460 | A quarter earn more. |
| 90th percentile | $59.45 | $123,660 | A tenth earn more than this. |
| Mean | $44.34 | $92,230 | The average. Pulled up by the top earners. |
Annual figures are the hourly rate times 2,080 hours, BLS's full-time year. Overtime is inside the survey's earnings but not separated out.
Illinois against its neighbors on the pay ladder
| # | State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | $101,310 | 10,590 |
| 2 | Illinois | $99,560 | 23,120 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $96,460 | 3,070 |
| 4 | Washington | $95,220 | 19,380 |
| 5 | Alaska | $89,440 | 1,870 |
The complete ranking is on the Electricians page.
Against the national figure
| Illinois | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual | $99,560 | $63,190 |
| Median hourly | $47.87 | $30.38 |
| 10th percentile, annual | $49,240 | $42,640 |
| 90th percentile, annual | $123,660 | $108,510 |
| Employed | 23,120 | 757,220 |
Other trades in Illinois
Plumbers and pipefitters ($99,950) · HVAC technicians ($77,410) · Welders ($51,320) · Truck drivers (CDL) ($60,320)
See all five ranked by pay in Illinois.
How to become an electrician in Illinois
Illinois has no statewide electrician license — electricians are licensed by individual municipalities, the largest being the City of Chicago, which licenses Supervising Electricians and electrical contractors.
| License | What it takes | Experience | Exam | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Supervising Electrician (local example) | Be at least 21 with at least two years' electrical experience, then pass the written exam (open-book, on the Chicago Electrical Code). Exam fee $150; initial license fee $150; valid one year. | — | Chicago Supervising Electrician written exam (Continental Testing) | $150 |
| Chicago Electrical Contractor (business) | A business must employ at least one licensed supervising electrician. Fee $150; valid one year. | — | — | $150 |
Reciprocity. No statewide license means no statewide reciprocity; licensing is set by each municipality.
Renewal. Annual (the Chicago license; no statewide renewal).
Licensing sources: City of Chicago Supervising Electrician License (retrieved 2026-09-16) · City of Chicago Electrical Contractor License (retrieved 2026-09-16). Requirements change — confirm with No statewide Illinois electrician license; licensed by municipality (the City of Chicago shown as the main example) before you act.
Compare the time and cost to get licensed across trades and states →
Common questions
Do you need a license to work as an electrician in Illinois?
Illinois has no statewide electrician license — electricians are licensed by individual municipalities, the largest being the City of Chicago, which licenses Supervising Electricians and electrical contractors.
What does it cost to get licensed as an electrician in Illinois?
The main application or license fee is $150; separate exam or endorsement fees can apply, as noted in the table above.
How long does it take to become an electrician in Illinois?
It depends on which credential you need and the training and testing each step takes — the full path is in the table above.
The pay and employment figures above are the May 2025 BLS estimates; the licensing detail is sourced separately from the state authority and dated inline. See how the numbers are built.