How long does freight broker training take in Illinois?

Most paths into the freight broker 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 freight brokers 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 Freight Broker in Illinois (2026)

Q: How much do freight brokers earn in Illinois?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), freight brokers in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $80,100. Employment concentration in Illinois is about 1.44 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for freight brokers in Illinois?

Illinois currently employs approximately 14,170 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 16.7% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated August 11, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois logisticians earn a median annual wage of $80,100 ($38.51/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 14,170 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -2.7% below the national median of $82,320 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $80,100 ($38.51/hr)
25th percentile: $63,300 per year
75th percentile: $100,620 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $128,070 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $48,020 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 14,170
Versus national median: -2.7% below the U.S. median of $82,320
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.44 - this occupation is more concentrated in Illinois than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed August 11, 2026.

Illinois employs about 14,170 freight brokers earning a median $80,100 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most freight brokers train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Illinois.

Key Facts

Median wage (Illinois): $80,100/yr (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Employed in Illinois: 14,170 workers (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Location quotient: 1.44x U.S. average (Source: BLS OEWS, 2025)
Projected growth: 16.7% (2024-2034) (Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024)

Compare Freight Broker Schools in Illinois

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Moraine Valley Community College	60.0	Contact school for pricing	$51,357	37%	Yes*	74 mi
2	Spoon River College	56.1	Contact school for pricing	$35,368	42%	Yes*	68 mi
3	Joliet Junior College	55.1	$4,530 - $13,800	$51,121	21%	Yes*	52 mi
4	Kankakee Community College	53.4	$5,220 - $25,830	$50,343	35%	Yes*	57 mi
5	Elgin Community College	50.2	Contact school for pricing	$54,220	41%	—	77 mi
6	Illinois Central College	50.0	Contact school for pricing	$55,058	Not reported	Yes*	36 mi
7	Morton College	49.6	Contact school for pricing	$46,999	30%	—	83 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Illinois employs approximately 14,170 freight brokers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $80,100 ¹. The state’s concentration of freight broker jobs is 1.44x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, freight broker employment is projected to grow 16.7% from 2024 to 2034, with about 26,400 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a freight broker in Illinois, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Freight Broker Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Logisticians Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), logisticians 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	10,220	$79,900	$84,480	$48,430	$127,150
St. Louis	2,430	$88,880	$92,710	$54,980	$130,170
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	770	$100,710	$101,860	$61,140	$139,170
Peoria	570	$85,930	$92,210	$44,830	$155,820
Rockford	220	$78,560	$86,080	$45,540	$132,360
Bloomington	180	$78,030	$73,870	$46,760	$98,500
Champaign-Urbana	150	$58,840	$67,180	$46,060	$105,070
Springfield	130	$77,090	$82,200	$53,080	$123,810
Decatur	110	$81,760	$86,750	$49,780	$125,830
Kankakee	50	$77,460	$78,480	$49,250	$108,740

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): $80,100 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Freight Broker in Illinois

How to become a freight broker in Illinois? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for freight brokers 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 freight brokers earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for freight brokers in Illinois is $80,100 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,020 and experienced professionals can earn $128,070 or more ¹.

How to Become a Freight Broker 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 freight brokers 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 freight brokers in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 14,170 freight brokers ¹. Nationally, freight broker employment is projected to grow 16.7% 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 freight brokers earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for freight brokers in Illinois is $80,100, which is $780 below the national median of $80,880 according to BLS data ¹.

In Illinois

Illinois Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

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

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)