How to Become an Electrician in Illinois

If you live in Illinois and are considering a new career, training to become an electrician is a great option. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), demand for qualified electricians is growing, adding thousands of new jobs nationwide. In 2023, Illinois employed 27,850 electricians. With a few years of paid training, you can become a licensed electrician, gaining job security, hands-on work, and a strong income. [En Español]

Requirements for Becoming an Electrician in Illinois

Illinois does not have a statewide electrical license, but most cities and counties have their own licensing or registration requirements. To work as an electrician, you must check with the local city or county government where you plan to work.

For example, in Chicago, you need to contact the Department of Buildings to learn how to become a licensed supervising electrician. In Cook County, you must apply for registration as an electrical contractor.

No matter where you plan to work in Illinois, the first step to becoming an electrician is completing an educational or apprenticeship program. You must complete electrical technology coursework, develop a working knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC), and gain hands-on experience under a licensed electrician to meet local licensing requirements.

You can start your electrician training at a vocational school, community college, or trade school, where you will complete the required coursework. Some programs assist with apprenticeship placement, while others may require you to find a licensed electrician for on-the-job training.

Illinois also offers union and non-union apprenticeship programs that provide both classroom instruction and hands-on work experience, covering everything needed to become a licensed electrician.

After completing a training or apprenticeship program, you can apply for licensing in the city or county where you plan to work.

In Chicago, you must be at least 21 years old, have two years of work experience under a licensed electrician, and pass an exam to become a licensed supervising electrician. This license allows you to work for an electrical contractor.

If you want to start your own business and hire other electricians, you can apply to become an independent electrical contractor in Cook County. To qualify, you must be a licensed supervising electrician and carry liability insurance.

Electrician Apprenticeship Programs in Illinois

An apprenticeship program is a good way to become an electrician in the state, because it will give you all the experience you need to meet requirements for licensing in most cities and counties. There are several Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATCs) throughout the state that are associated with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) as well as some non-union programs offered through the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) and Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Some examples of these include:

• IBEW, Local 134. The IBEW NECA Technical Institute, is the union organization responsible for the electrician apprenticeship in Chicago.
• Quad City Electrical Training Center, Moline
• IBEW, Local 193, Springfield
• IBEW, Local 461, Aurora. Apprenticeship information
• Bloomington-Normal JATC, Bloomington
• ABC-Illinois Chapter, Elk Grove Village and Springfield

Electrician apprenticeship programs in Illinois take four to five years to complete. They include evening classroom instruction and daytime on-the-job training as a paid apprentice, allowing you to earn income while learning. Most programs require 8,000 hours of work experience to qualify for licensing.

To enroll, applicants must:

• Pass a basic aptitude test, including algebra
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a high school diploma or GED

Electrician Schools in Illinois

Earning a degree or certificate from a vocational or community college, or electrician trade school is another option for beginning your career as an electrician:

• Illinois Central College, East Peoria. The industrial electrical technology associate degree program takes two years to complete and prepares students for entry-level work and electrical apprenticeships.
• John Wood Community College, Quincy. The two-year electrical technology degree program at John Wood prepares students to work as apprentices. There is also a shorter, certificate program option.
• Kankakee Community College, Kankakee. Students can choose between a two-year degree or a certificate in industrial electrical technology or specialties like renewable energy technology or industrial instrumentation and process control.

Outlook and Salary Expectations

In 2023, according to the BLS, there were 24,700 electricians employed in Illinois. Demand is high for qualified professionals as there are expected to be 27,850 positions for electricians in the state by 2033. This translates into an expected 3,010 electrician job openings per year in the state over that period. You can also expect salaries to be competitive. The average income is $92,230, and the top 10 percent earn $123,660 or more (BLS May 2025 OEWS data).

Salaries in Illinois by Occupation

Occupation	Total Employment	Mean Hourly Wage	Mean Annual Wage	Annual Salary 10th Percentile	Annual Salary 25th Percentile	Annual Salary 75th Percentile	Annual Salary 90th Percentile
Electricians	24,700	$45.72	$95,090	$48,170	$71,770	$106,090	$116,330
Helpers--Electricians	890	$13.00	$27,040	$27,040	$27,040	$40,600	$46,930
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment	1,600	$31.26	$65,020	$48,570	$57,450	$82,310	$102,240
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay	470	$50.09	$104,180	$76,700	$100,300	$116,510	$123,770
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	4,340	$51.22	$106,540	$61,480	$85,700	$115,100	$116,540

Electrician Salaries in Illinois by Region

Area	Total Employment	Mean Hourly Wage	Mean Annual Salary	Hourly Wage 10th Percentile	Hourly Wage 25th Percentile	Hourly Wage 75th Percentile	Hourly Wage 90th Percentile
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	19,390	$47.50	$98,790	$23.99	$35.81	$52.24	$57.54
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	1,070	$32.97	$68,580	$20.09	$24.38	$38.94	$44.60
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	120	$26.00	$54,080	$17.35	$22.54	$30.86	$38.85
St. Louis, MO-IL	5,700	$36.99	$76,950	$18.42	$24.78	$46.75	$47.77
Bloomington, IL	280	$36.61	$76,160	$27.63	$36.61	$44.10	$46.98
Carbondale-Marion, IL	120	$43.83	$91,170	$23.30	$31.44	$51.13	$52.52
Champaign-Urbana, IL	430	$46.54	$96,810	$22.43	$35.40	$47.38	$48.77
Danville, IL	130	$36.18	$75,260	$23.02	$28.65	$46.36	$47.14
Decatur, IL	390	$48.10	$100,040	$27.31	$34.56	$48.10	$54.41
Kankakee, IL	120	$37.13	$77,240	$22.98	$29.13	$49.60	$52.85
Peoria, IL	850	$40.17	$83,560	$22.17	$29.65	$46.34	$48.36
Rockford, IL	600	$37.09	$77,140	$22.14	$29.42	$43.85	$48.61
Springfield, IL	310	$41.34	$85,990	$20.16	$28.02	$48.17	$53.42

Working as an Electrician in Illinois

With the electrician industry growing in Illinois, job opportunities are expected to remain strong. Many licensed electricians work for electrical contractors, building contractors, developers, government agencies, or in industrial settings.

If you become a licensed independent contractor, you can start your own business and work for yourself. With just a few years of education and paid training, you can build a stable career, earn a strong income, and enjoy job security as an electrician.

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Neighbor States

Residents of Illinois may also wish to review their options in Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky and Indiana.

More Electrician Training in Illinois

• Best Associate Degree Programs For Tomorrow’s Electricians of Chicago
• Best Electrical Apprenticeship Programs in Chicago
• Studying to Become an Electrician at City Colleges of Chicago