How to Become an Electrician in Illinois (2026)
Illinois employs about 23,120 electricians earning a median $99,560 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as an electrician here means working through a trade school or registered apprenticeship and meeting the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training credentialing requirements.
Illinois employs approximately 23,120 electricians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $99,560 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 81,000 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become an Electrician in Illinois, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training
- Median wage (Illinois): $99,560 per year 1
- Exam requirement: No exam required
Quick Answers About How to Become an Electrician in Illinois
How to become an Electrician in Illinois? Illinois requires credentials such as ELECTRICAL HOISTING ENGINEER, COAL MINE ELECTRICIAN SURFACE, COAL MINE ELECTRICIAN RENEWAL. The licensing authority is the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? Most paths into the electrician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.
Do I need a license in Illinois? Yes. Illinois has licensing or registration requirements for electricians. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do electricians earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for electricians in Illinois is $99,560 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $49,240 and experienced professionals can earn $123,660 or more 1.
How to Become an Electrician 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 approved 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.
- Pass the state exam and apply for your license. Apply to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training, pass the required examination, and obtain the electrician credential before working unsupervised in Illinois.
Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.
Electrician License Requirements in Illinois
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training oversees electrician licensing in Illinois 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL HOISTING ENGINEER | An individual responsible for the safe operation of the electrical and mechanical components of a hoist when workers are being raised or lowered into or out of a coal mine. |
| COAL MINE ELECTRICIAN SURFACE | A person who performs basic maintenance, calibration and testing of electrical equipment, lines and machinery in the mine, on the surface. |
| COAL MINE ELECTRICIAN RENEWAL | A person who performs basic maintenance, calibration and testing of electrical equipment, lines and machinery underground in the mine. |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: No exam required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Electrician Apprenticeship Information in Illinois
Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Illinois’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship 5.
Contact Information:
- Office: BEST, Inc
- Address: 815 N. Orlando Smith Ave., Oglesby, IL 61348
- Phone: (815) 224-0375
- Email: [email protected]
Federal Prevailing Wage in Illinois
Under the Davis-Bacon Act, electricians working on federally funded construction projects in Illinois earn a prevailing wage set by the U.S. Department of Labor. Recent Illinois general wage determinations show approximately $35.00 per hour in base pay plus $20.67 per hour in fringe benefits, for an effective hourly rate of about $55.67 (Source: DOL Wage and Hour Division, Davis-Bacon wage determinations, 2026) 6.
Prevailing wages apply to federal construction contracts above the Davis-Bacon threshold and may differ from typical private-sector pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rates also vary by county and by classification within electrician work.
Electrician Wages by Metro Area in Illinois
Electricians Wages by Metro Area in Illinois
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), electricians 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 | 17,720 | $102,350 | $94,450 | $49,890 | $124,070 |
| St. Louis | 5,920 | $77,170 | $75,770 | $46,890 | $104,800 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | 1,450 | $76,950 | $72,760 | $40,640 | $102,480 |
| Peoria | 880 | $80,460 | $81,840 | $46,030 | $108,490 |
| Champaign-Urbana | 410 | $100,320 | $86,700 | $47,970 | $105,710 |
| Decatur | 400 | $81,020 | $87,430 | $49,370 | $119,020 |
| Paducah | 400 | $73,930 | $67,910 | $38,910 | $89,490 |
| Rockford | 370 | $93,280 | $89,650 | $58,690 | $125,090 |
| Bloomington | 330 | $79,430 | $77,520 | $38,100 | $104,480 |
| Springfield | 330 | $84,780 | $83,990 | $46,840 | $116,560 |
| Cape Girardeau | 150 | $59,720 | $66,990 | $44,550 | $99,400 |
| Kankakee | 140 | $105,500 | $90,850 | $59,390 | $111,490 |
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 electricians in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 23,120 electricians 1. Nationally, electrician employment is projected to grow 9.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as an electrician in Illinois with an out-of-state license? Contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Illinois. You can also contact the Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.
How much do electricians earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for electricians in Illinois is $99,560, which is $37,210 above the national median of $62,350 according to BLS data 1.
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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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training - Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Mines and Minerals, Division of Mine Safety and Training - Licensing Information: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/mines/Pages/default.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division - Davis-Bacon General Wage Determinations: https://sam.gov/wage-determinations ↩︎
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) |