BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 47-2111
Electrician Salary in Illinois 2026
Snapshot 6 September 2026
$99,560/yr median · $47.87/hr
State Median
$100k
vs. National
+$36k
Top 10%
$124k
COL-Adjusted
$102k
Electrician Salary Range in Illinois
The full wage spread for electricians (occupation 47-2111) in Illinois, from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%. All three figures are reported directly by BLS. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111. Snapshot taken 6 September 2026.
10th percentile
$49k
$49,240/yr
Lowest-paid 10%
Median (50th)
$100k
$99,560/yr
Typical electrician
90th percentile
$124k
$123,660/yr
Highest-paid 10%
An electrician in the bottom 10% of Illinois earners makes about $49,240/yr, while the top 10% earn $123,660/yr or more, a range of $74,420. The 10th percentile is a published BLS wage observation (it typically reflects apprentices and newly-licensed journeymen). OEWS publishes no separate entry-level figure, so none is shown.
Where Illinois Ranks
Illinois ranks #2 of 50 states for electrician median wages. The national median is $63,190 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111). Illinois pays $36,370 above the national average.
Illinois's cost-of-living index is 98 (MERIC 2026, where 100 = US average). After adjustment, the purchasing power of an electrician's salary here is equivalent to $101,592/yr in national-average dollar terms. This is a MERIC 2026 figure, not a BLS one. Cost of living is near the national average.
Pay by Metro Area
Median annual wage for the major metropolitan areas in Illinois. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan wage estimates, occupation 47-2111. Metros are ordered highest to lowest.
| Metro Area | Median Annual | vs. State Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Metro | $102,350 | +2.8k |
| Champaign-Urbana | $100,320 | +0.8k |
| Rockford | $93,280 | -6.3k |
| Springfield | $84,780 | -14.8k |
| Peoria | $80,460 | -19.1k |
Pay by Experience Level
Editorial estimates built from state apprenticeship wage schedules and IBEW/IEC agreement rates. Not BLS: OEWS reports all electricians together under 47-2111 and publishes no apprentice, journeyman or master split.
| Level | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice (Year 1 - Chicago) | $22 - $27/hr | $46,000 - $56,000 |
| Apprentice (Year 4-5) | $30 - $38/hr | $62,000 - $79,000 |
| Journeyman (IBEW Local 134 Chicago) | $52.10/hr base | $108,000+ (base) |
| Master Electrician | $58 - $72/hr (employee) | $121,000 - $150,000 |
| Self-Employed Contractor | $110 - $200/hr billed | $130,000 - $350,000+ net |
Illinois Licensing Requirements
See full 50-state licensing matrix at electriciansalary.com/licensing
Union Presence in Illinois
IBEW Locals: IBEW Local 134 (Chicago - one of the highest-paying Inside locals in the US), Local 461 (Aurora), Local 364 (Rockford), Local 193 (Springfield)
Union membership (all workers): In 2025, 13.1% of all wage and salary workers in Illinois were union members and 14% were covered by a union contract (BLS, all occupations, not electricians alone).
Union pay gap: Nationally in 2025, full-time union members in construction and extraction occupations had median weekly earnings of $1,561, against $1,004 for non-union workers, about 55% higher before benefits (BLS). BLS does not publish this split for electricians alone or by state.
Source: BLS, Union Members 2025 (Current Population Survey annual averages), Tables 4 and 5. BLS publishes no electrician-only union rate by state.
Full IBEW wage scale breakdown and union vs non-union analysis
Job Outlook in Illinois
Illinois remains the top-paying state for electricians due to the power of IBEW Local 134 in Chicago and the density of industrial and commercial work in the metro. Future demand is driven by: data center expansion in the Chicago suburbs (Elk Grove Village is one of the largest data center markets in the US), offshore wind preparation on Lake Michigan, and Stellantis / electric vehicle assembly plant electrical work downstate.
Major Employers in Illinois
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do electricians make in Illinois?
What is the salary range for electricians in Illinois?
How does Illinois rank for electrician pay?
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Related Pages
State 10th-percentile, median and 90th-percentile wage figures: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111. Snapshot taken 6 September 2026. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Metro figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan wage estimates, occupation 47-2111. Cost-of-living index: MERIC cost of living index, 2026 (100 = US average), a separate non-BLS source. Pay-by-level ladder: Editorial estimates built from state apprenticeship wage schedules and IBEW/IEC agreement rates. Not BLS: OEWS reports all electricians together under 47-2111 and publishes no apprentice, journeyman or master split. IBEW local agreements 2025-2026.