Electricians in Illinois
Illinois electricians earn a median of $97,000–$100,000 per year — the highest in the United States. That number isn’t driven by cost of living alone. Strong unions, aggressive prevailing wage enforcement, and Chicago’s commercial construction market push compensation well past what most states offer. The tradeoff: Illinois has no statewide license, Chicago has its own electrical code, and the regulatory patchwork is dense.
What does Illinois licensing actually require?
Illinois has no statewide electrician license. Licensing is entirely local — and if you work in Chicago, you’re playing by Chicago’s rules.
Licensing authority: Local municipalities — no statewide license
City of Chicago Electrician License: written exam covering the NEC and the Chicago Electrical Code (yes, Chicago has its own code). DuPage, Cook, and other collar counties each have separate requirements. If you work across multiple jurisdictions in the Chicago metro area, you may need multiple local licenses. There is no state-level credential that covers them all.
What do Illinois electricians earn?
Illinois employs roughly 31,000 electricians. Median annual wage: $97,000–$100,000 (BLS OEWS data).
Highest median electrician wage in the country. That’s not a typo. Strong unions, prevailing wage laws, and Chicago’s dense commercial market drive the numbers. Downstate is lower, but even collar-county work pays well above the national median.
Run the numbers with the free Take-Home Pay Calculator →
Apprenticeship programs in Illinois
- IBEW Local 134 JATC (Chicago)
- DuPage JATC (DuPage County)
- IBEW Local 117 NECA JATC (McHenry & N. Kane Counties)
Which NEC edition does Illinois enforce?
Here’s where it gets interesting: Chicago uses its own Chicago Electrical Code alongside the NEC. The two are not the same. A calculation that’s code-compliant in Springfield may not pass inspection in Chicago. Always verify which code your jurisdiction enforces.
View Illinois NEC Adoption Details →
Free calculators for Illinois electricians
These run offline and match NEC reference tables:
- Wire Size Calculator
- Voltage Drop Calculator
- Conduit Fill Calculator
- Box Fill Calculator
- Conduit Bending Calculator
- GFCI & AFCI Requirements Guide
The app
Electrician’s NEC Field Calculator — wire sizing, voltage drop, conduit fill, box fill, motor circuits, equipment grounding. All from NEC tables. $9.99, once.
You’re earning six figures and paying $20/month for a calculator app? That’s $8,400 over a career. FieldLab charges $9.99, once.