Electrician Salary in Illinois: $101,936 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Illinois's 65 metropolitan areas, the average median electrician pay sits at $101,936/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 47-2111. Because Illinois sits at BEA RPP 97.1 (3% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $104,980 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Kankakee ($105,500), Naperville ($103,419), Chicago ($102,350).

Electrician Salary in Illinois - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — Illinois electrician salary overview (2026)

$101,936

Avg Median Salary

$49.01

Avg Hourly Rate

21,191

Metro Employed

Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for electricians in Illinois is projected to be $101,935, significantly higher than the national median of $64,530, making it 58.0% above the national average. The disparity in salaries among cities is pronounced, with Kankakee offering the highest average at $107,737 and Rock Island the lowest at $78,736, resulting in a salary gap of $28,999. This variance is influenced by factors such as the cost of living, local demand for skilled labor, and the concentration of industrial versus residential work. Illinois requires electricians to be state-licensed, which involves completion of an apprenticeship and passing state examinations. This regulatory environment helps ensure a high level of skill among licensed electricians. The job market shows strength, with a projected annual growth rate of 2.12%, reflecting increasing demand for electrical work driven by expanding infrastructure projects and advancements in technology. Top cities like Naperville and Chicago follow closely behind Kankakee with average salaries of $105,611 and $104,520, respectively. This outlook suggests that electricians in Illinois can expect solid job prospects and competitive salaries driven by both state-specific licensing requirements and ongoing economic demand.

Illinois Electrician Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$51,023

avg across 65 cities

Median

$101,936

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$125,448

avg across 65 cities

Overall salary range in Illinois: $38,908 (lowest entry-level) to $163,697 (highest top earner)

Illinois vs National Average

Illinois

$101,936

National Median

$64,530

Illinois electricians earn 57.97% more than the national median (+$37,406/year difference).

Illinois Electrician Salary Distribution (2026)

Electrician salaries in Illinois range from $51,023 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $125,448 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $101,936. The Illinois median is $37,406 above the US national median of $64,530. The average hourly rate is $49.01/hr. Approximately 21,191 electricians are employed across 65 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$83,806

2025 BLS Actual

$99,819

2026 Current Est.

$101,936

2019–2027 Growth

+24.2%

Salary Trajectory for Electricians in Illinois (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.12% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$83,806	Actual
2020	$86,134	Actual
2021	$92,290	Actual
2022	$94,918	Actual
2023	$96,464	Actual
2024	$97,487	Actual
2025	$99,819	Actual
2026(current)	$101,936	Estimated
2027	$104,097	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Illinois metropolitan area, the median electrician salary grew 19.1% from $83,806 (2019) to $99,819 (2025). At a 2.12% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $104,097 by 2027 — a total increase of $20,291 (24.21%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Illinois metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.12% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Illinois

Kankakee

140 employed · $51.80/hr

$107,737

+5.69% vs avg

Naperville

23 employed · $50.77/hr

$105,611

+3.61% vs avg

Chicago

17,720 employed · $50.25/hr

$104,520

+2.53% vs avg

Elgin

16 employed · $49.80/hr

$103,587

+1.62% vs avg

Champaign

410 employed · $49.25/hr

$102,447

+0.50% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Illinois

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Rock Island	$78,736	-22.76%	$37.86
Moline	$79,974	-21.54%	$38.45
Bloomington	$81,114	-20.43%	$39.00
Peoria	$82,166	-19.39%	$39.50
Decatur	$82,738	-18.83%	$39.78

Best Value Cities for Electricians in Illinois

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Illinois cities offer the most purchasing power for electricians.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Kankakee	$107,737	96.394	$111,767
Champaign	$102,447	92.704	$110,510
Naperville	$105,611	97.1	$108,765
Elgin	$103,587	97.1	$106,681
Urbana	$102,074	97.1	$105,123

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Illinois

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$51,023	$24.53	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$101,936	$49.01	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$125,448	$60.31	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Illinois metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 65 Cities in Illinois

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Kankakee	$107,737	$51.80	$60,649	$113,854	140
2	Naperville	$105,611	$50.77	$67,728	$163,697	23
3	Chicago	$104,520	$50.25	$50,948	$126,700	17,720
4	Elgin	$103,587	$49.80	$71,097	$160,560	16
5	Champaign	$102,447	$49.25	$48,987	$107,951	410
6	Urbana	$102,074	$49.08	$74,989	$158,215	6
7	Rockford	$95,258	$45.80	$59,934	$127,742	370
8	Orland Park	$92,187	$44.32	$62,425	$142,889	9
9	Bolingbrook	$91,791	$44.13	$58,456	$142,276	19
10	Palatine	$91,099	$43.80	$59,554	$141,203	16
11	Waukegan	$91,049	$43.77	$59,814	$141,126	18
12	Mount Prospect	$90,876	$43.69	$59,421	$140,857	13
13	Hoffman Estates	$90,580	$43.54	$58,752	$140,400	8
14	Evanston	$90,408	$43.46	$58,363	$140,132	16
15	Joliet	$90,331	$43.43	$61,318	$140,014	25
16	Oak Park	$90,257	$43.39	$58,022	$139,898	10
17	Danville	$90,070	$43.30	$62,450	$139,608	5
18	Addison	$89,880	$43.21	$61,998	$139,314	6
19	Berwyn	$89,839	$43.20	$57,086	$139,251	12
20	Aurora	$89,781	$43.17	$60,100	$139,160	44
21	Tinley Park	$89,767	$43.16	$63,739	$139,139	8
22	Northbrook	$89,675	$43.12	$61,419	$138,996	8
23	St. Charles	$89,618	$43.08	$61,380	$138,909	7
24	Gurnee	$89,597	$43.07	$61,330	$138,875	8
25	Arlington Heights	$89,471	$43.01	$63,427	$138,681	18
26	Wheaton	$89,357	$42.96	$63,162	$138,503	14
27	Woodridge	$89,329	$42.95	$60,604	$138,460	9
28	Schaumburg	$89,285	$42.92	$62,906	$138,391	13
29	Buffalo Grove	$89,259	$42.91	$65,115	$138,351	7
30	Bartlett	$89,252	$42.91	$60,516	$138,340	9
31	Lake in the Hills	$88,920	$42.75	$59,646	$137,826	6
32	Collinsville	$88,906	$42.75	$59,708	$137,804	5
33	Skokie	$88,881	$42.73	$61,984	$137,766	12
34	Wheeling	$88,750	$42.67	$63,901	$137,563	6
35	Carpentersville	$88,652	$42.62	$63,760	$137,412	8
36	Oak Lawn	$88,593	$42.59	$61,058	$137,320	14
37	O'Fallon	$88,575	$42.58	$58,935	$137,291	6
38	Quincy	$88,229	$42.42	$58,135	$136,754	6
39	Algonquin	$88,229	$42.42	$57,762	$136,754	5
40	Carol Stream	$88,151	$42.38	$57,955	$136,635	10
41	Normal	$88,147	$42.38	$57,839	$136,627	8
42	Lombard	$88,095	$42.35	$57,825	$136,547	8
43	Cicero	$88,003	$42.31	$60,087	$136,405	21
44	Plainfield	$87,911	$42.27	$64,282	$136,262	11
45	Des Plaines	$87,895	$42.26	$59,845	$136,237	12
46	Oswego	$87,559	$42.09	$63,447	$135,716	7
47	DeKalb	$87,488	$42.06	$63,650	$135,607	9
48	Park Ridge	$87,418	$42.03	$63,484	$135,498	7
49	Hanover Park	$87,382	$42.01	$63,400	$135,442	6
50	Glenview	$87,375	$42.01	$63,383	$135,432	12
51	Romeoville	$87,023	$41.84	$62,554	$134,885	7
52	Streamwood	$86,902	$41.78	$62,272	$134,698	8
53	Downers Grove	$86,740	$41.71	$61,892	$134,446	11
54	Belleville	$86,719	$41.70	$61,844	$134,414	10
55	Springfield	$86,577	$41.62	$47,833	$119,031	330
56	Crystal Lake	$86,577	$41.62	$61,514	$134,195	9
57	Galesburg	$86,246	$41.46	$60,744	$133,682	4
58	Calumet City	$86,218	$41.45	$60,678	$133,637	7
59	Elmhurst	$86,006	$41.35	$60,189	$133,311	9
60	Carbondale	$85,158	$40.94	$64,478	$131,995	5
61	Decatur	$82,738	$39.78	$50,417	$121,543	400
62	Peoria	$82,166	$39.50	$47,006	$110,790	880
63	Bloomington	$81,114	$39.00	$38,908	$106,695	330
64	Moline	$79,974	$38.45	$54,637	$123,960	10
65	Rock Island	$78,736	$37.86	$52,077	$122,041	5

More Illinois Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore electrician hourly pay in Illinois cities.

Kankakee →Naperville →Chicago →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new electricians.

Kankakee →Naperville →Chicago →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced electricians.

Kankakee →Naperville →Chicago →

Compare Cities in Illinois

Chicago, ILvsPeoria, IL Chicago, ILvsChampaign, IL Chicago, ILvsDecatur, IL Chicago, ILvsRockford, IL Chicago, ILvsSpringfield, IL Chicago, ILvsBloomington, IL

View all comparisons →

Explore More Electrician Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do electricians make in Illinois in 2026?

The average median electrician salary in Illinois is $101,936/year across 65 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $78,736 in Rock Island to $107,737 in Kankakee. This makes Illinois one of the higher-paying states, at 57.97% above the national median of $64,530. The state employs approximately 21,191 electricians.

What is the highest paying city for electricians in Illinois?

Kankakee offers the highest electrician salary in Illinois at $107,737/year ($51.80/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Kankakee ($107,737), Naperville ($105,611), Chicago ($104,520). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for electrical services, and competition among employers for licensed electricians.

How does Illinois electrician pay compare to the national average?

Illinois's average electrician salary of $101,936 is 57.97% above the national median of $64,530 in 2026. The state employs approximately 21,191 electricians across 65 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level electrician salary in Illinois?

Entry-level electricians (10th percentile) in Illinois earn approximately $51,023/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $38,908 in lower-paying areas to $74,989 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many electricians are employed in Illinois?

Illinois employs approximately 21,191 electricians across 65 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Illinois one of the larger employers of electricians nationally. Demand continues to grow as the electrical field expands and the population ages.

Which Illinois city offers the best value for electricians?

When adjusted for cost of living, Kankakee offers the highest purchasing power for electricians in Illinois, with an adjusted salary of $111,767 (nominal: $107,737, CoL index: 96.394). This means your dollar goes 4% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

Written by Samuel Carter, Career Analyst

Career Analyst

Samuel Carter has over 10 years of experience as an electrician. His focus includes residential wiring and safety standards. He has worked in various construction firms.

Clinically reviewed by Rina Patel, Electrical EngineerData verified by Miguel Torres, Certified Electrician

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.12% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 electrician compensation across Illinois. State averages are employment-weighted across 65 metro areas — larger metro areas with more electricianscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.12%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for electricians (SOC 47-2111).

Compiled and verified by Samuel Carter, Career Analyst, a licensed electrician with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 9, 2026

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