How to Become a Electronics Engineer in Illinois: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median electronics engineer salary in Illinois is $129,390 per year - in line with the national median of $130,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in electronics or electrical engineering.
How to Become a Electronics Engineer in Illinois
1. Earn an ABET-accredited bachelor’s
Electronics engineering or electrical engineering with an electronics focus.
2. Convert bench skill to design skill
Circuit simulation, PCB layout, and embedded firmware round out hands-on experience.
3. Start in test or design
Defense, telecom, and instrumentation firms hire technicians-turned-engineers into validation roles first.
4. Specialize
RF/communications, avionics, instrumentation, or control systems.
5. Advance
Senior engineer or engineering management; PE for public-sector sign-off.
Requirements in Illinois
The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in electronics or electrical engineering - while licensing runs through the Illinois state board of professional engineers: PE license for some roles; not required for most industry positions. Verify current requirements with the Illinois state board of professional engineers before enrolling, as details change.
Electronics Engineer Salary in Illinois
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois entry level (10th percentile) | $87,970 |
| Illinois 25th-75th percentile | $104,450 - $161,580 |
| Illinois median | $129,390 |
| Illinois top earners (90th percentile) | $186,060 |
| U.S. median | $130,220 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 960.
The Illinois Job Market: Electronics Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Illinois | 960 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.16 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.25 |
| Mean annual wage in Illinois | $132,450 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.25, Illinois employs electronics engineers at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $81,840 |
| 25th | $101,680 |
| 50th (median) | $130,220 |
| 75th | $167,670 |
| 90th | $206,960 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 95,900 |
| 2034 projected | 101,800 |
| Percent change | +6.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a electronics engineer make in Illinois?
The median annual wage for electronics engineers, except computer in Illinois is $129,390 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), in line with the national median of $130,220.
How to become a electronics engineer in Illinois?
The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in electronics or electrical engineering - with licensing through the Illinois state board of professional engineers: PE license for some roles; not required for most industry positions. See the steps on this page.
How many electronics engineers work in Illinois?
BLS counts about 960 electronics engineers, except computer employed in Illinois (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Electronics Engineer in Nearby States
- Electronics Engineer in Hawaii
- Electronics Engineer in Idaho
- Electronics Engineer in Indiana
- Electronics Engineer in Iowa
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (SOC 17-2072), Illinois and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
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/.
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) |