How to Become an Appliance Repair Technician in Illinois (2026)

Illinois employs about 1,730 appliance repair technicians earning a median $56,860 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most appliance repair technicians train through an approved program before entering the field in Illinois.

Illinois employs approximately 1,730 appliance repair technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $56,860 1. The state’s concentration of appliance repair technician jobs is 1.37x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, appliance repair technician employment is projected to grow 2.6% from 2024 to 2034, with about 3,100 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become an Appliance Repair Technician in Illinois, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: trade school or community college
  • Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
  • Median wage (Illinois): $56,860 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become an Appliance Repair Technician in Illinois

How to become an Appliance Repair Technician in Illinois? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for appliance repair technicians in Illinois.

How long does it take? appliance repair technician training length in Illinois varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do appliance repair technicians earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for appliance repair technicians in Illinois is $56,860 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $37,630 and experienced professionals can earn $78,370 or more 1.

How to Become an Appliance Repair Technician in Illinois

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Illinois training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved appliance repair technician program in Illinois that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to appliance repair technicians in Illinois before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Appliance Repair Technician Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Home Appliance Repairers Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), home appliance repairers wages in Illinois vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin10,140$73,537$74,333$48,029$99,245
St. Louis3,030$73,058$76,376$49,921$100,713
Peoria880$74,780$72,550$48,610$97,270
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island750$72,790$72,760$49,960$94,470
Rockford320$72,000$73,040$49,830$99,500
Paducah270$61,100$64,910$47,560$83,160
Decatur160$75,380$78,030$53,580$106,950
Kankakee130$62,410$66,420$50,930$93,240
Springfield110$63,676$68,332$44,262$102,014
Cape Girardeau80$66,530$65,800$46,040$78,550
Champaign-Urbana70$74,420$77,230$53,000$109,810
Bloomington50$46,635$52,913$39,031$67,786

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for appliance repair technicians in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 1,730 appliance repair technicians 1. Nationally, appliance repair technician employment is projected to grow 2.6% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Illinois.

How much do appliance repair technicians earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for appliance repair technicians in Illinois is $56,860, which is $7,450 above the national median of $49,410 according to BLS data 1.

In Illinois

Explore More Trades in Illinois

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References


  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)