How long does construction manager training take in Illinois?

Most paths into the construction manager field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What apprenticeships are available for construction managers in Illinois?

In Illinois, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details.

How to Become a Construction Manager in Illinois (2026)

Q: How much do construction managers earn in Illinois?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), construction managers in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $109,160. Employment concentration in Illinois is about 1.28 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for construction managers in Illinois?

Illinois currently employs approximately 19,160 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.7% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois construction managers earn a median annual wage of $109,160 ($52.48/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 19,160 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -5.1% below the national median of $114,990 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $109,160 ($52.48/hr)
25th percentile: $80,010 per year
75th percentile: $140,000 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $172,410 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $58,170 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 19,160
Versus national median: -5.1% below the U.S. median of $114,990
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.28 - this occupation is more concentrated in Illinois than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

Illinois employs about 19,160 construction managers earning a median $109,160 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most construction managers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Illinois.

Key Facts

Median wage (Illinois): $109,160/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Illinois: 19,160 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.28x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 8.7% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Construction Manager Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Construction Managers Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	13,850	$117,280	$120,530	$55,500	$178,140
St. Louis	2,880	$116,680	$120,210	$72,450	$169,720
Peoria	640	$105,900	$112,460	$65,090	$159,390
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	460	$102,360	$109,640	$65,500	$153,530
Rockford	320	$106,870	$109,530	$64,170	$156,880
Decatur	280	$104,160	$117,960	$74,660	$161,290
Champaign-Urbana	270	$99,500	$105,750	$58,510	$156,140
Springfield	270	$104,010	$109,620	$68,470	$154,780
Bloomington	220	$97,500	$102,570	$58,800	$154,160
Paducah	90	$97,660	$114,510	$67,760	$189,960
Kankakee	80	$92,820	$94,510	$59,680	$131,920
Cape Girardeau	70	$102,980	$103,970	$71,230	$126,310

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 .

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Illinois): $109,160 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Construction Manager in Illinois

How to become a construction manager in Illinois? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for construction managers in Illinois.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do construction managers earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for construction managers in Illinois is $109,160 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $58,170 and experienced professionals can earn $172,410 or more ¹.

How to Become a Construction Manager in Illinois

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Illinois training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete a training program or apprenticeship. Enroll in an accredited trade school program or a registered apprenticeship in Illinois that combines classroom instruction with supervised hands-on hours.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to construction managers in Illinois before you start working.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for construction managers in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 19,160 construction managers ¹. Nationally, construction manager employment is projected to grow 8.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do construction managers earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for construction managers in Illinois is $109,160, which is $2,180 above the national median of $106,980 according to BLS data ¹.

In Illinois

Illinois Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

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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

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

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)