How to Become a Home Inspector in Illinois (2026)

Q: How long does home inspector training take in Illinois?

Most people become a Home Inspector in Illinois through a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary.

Q: How much do home inspectors earn in Illinois?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), home inspectors in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $78,340. Employment concentration in Illinois is roughly 0.44 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for home inspectors in Illinois?

Illinois currently employs approximately 2,560 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.8% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | Brad Fishbein Reviewed by Brad Fishbein, Florida Licensed Mold Assessor (MRSA1408), Council-certified Microbial Investigator

Illinois construction and building inspectors earn a median annual wage of $78,340 ($37.66/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 2,560 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 4.9% above the national median of $74,690 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $78,340 ($37.66/hr)
25th percentile: $59,660 per year
75th percentile: $100,030 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $119,650 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $47,600 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 2,560
Versus national median: 4.9% above the U.S. median of $74,690
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.44 - this occupation is less concentrated in Illinois than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Illinois employs about 2,560 home inspectors earning a median $78,340 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Home Inspector here means completing a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

Compare Home Inspector 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	State Technical College of Missouri	69.9	Contact school for pricing	$58,407	82%	—	232 mi
2	Fox Valley Technical College	67.6	$5,040 - $16,862	$55,857	63%	Yes*	227 mi
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3	Northeast Wisconsin Technical College	62.5	Contact school for pricing	$54,887	49%	Yes*	246 mi
4	Waukesha County Technical College	62.3	Contact school for pricing	$57,764	45%	Yes*	147 mi
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5	McHenry County College	58.3	Contact school for pricing	$47,580	38%	Yes*	90 mi
6	Gateway Technical College	56.0	$4,956 - $16,242	$54,142	49%	Yes*	124 mi
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7	Triton College	54.9	Contact school for pricing	$52,701	Not reported	Yes*	85 mi
8	Heartland Community College	51.7	$5,550 - $16,727	$48,942	53%	Yes*	33 mi
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9	Northwest State Community College	49.9	$4,698 - $17,994	$50,785	46%	Yes*	243 mi
10	Ivy Tech Community College	49.2	$5,154 - $15,370	$53,369	38%	Yes*	169 mi
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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 2,560 home inspectors according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $78,340 ¹. Nationally, home inspector employment is projected to grow -0.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,800 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Home Inspector in Illinois, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: home-inspector training program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary
Exam: state home-inspector exam where required; otherwise ICC, ASHI, or InterNACHI
Median wage (Illinois): $78,340 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Home Inspector in Illinois

How to become a Home Inspector in Illinois? Complete a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a home-inspector course plus the state home-inspector license where the state has one. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Illinois? Licensing varies. Confirm with the program and employer. See the licensing section below.

What do home inspectors earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for home inspectors in Illinois is $78,340 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,600 and experienced professionals can earn $119,650 or more ¹.

How to Become a Home Inspector in Illinois

Complete inspector training. Finish a home-inspector course. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary. Hour totals vary; confirm with the program. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Pass a state exam only where the state licenses inspectors. Some states require a home-inspector license; others do not. Confirm whether Illinois licenses this occupation.
Optional ICC, ASHI, or InterNACHI credentials. Those credentials help hiring. They do not replace a state license in states that license the occupation.
Confirm with a real board only. Do not treat a contractor class as the inspector credential. Confirm current rules with the employer.

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

Home Inspector License Requirements in Illinois

Some states require a home-inspector license; others do not. Confirm whether Illinois licenses this occupation. ICC, ASHI, and InterNACHI credentials are voluntary.

Typical path

Complete a home-inspector course.
Pass the state exam only in states that license home inspectors.
Optional ICC, ASHI, or InterNACHI credentials.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the employer before you enroll.

Home Inspector Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Construction and Building Inspectors Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), construction and building inspectors 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	1,840	$82,640	$84,690	$48,310	$127,210
St. Louis	870	$63,840	$66,690	$48,140	$94,390
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	110	$73,440	$73,620	$46,340	$95,560
Champaign-Urbana	70	$73,350	$74,980	$47,820	$99,210
Springfield	60	$56,610	$58,180	$42,710	$74,390
Bloomington	50	$79,250	$81,060	$47,380	$109,110
Peoria	50	$62,350	$66,120	$39,920	$96,190
Rockford	50	$72,330	$69,430	$48,480	$81,740
Paducah	40	$78,360	$72,170	$35,860	$99,210

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 home inspectors in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 2,560 home inspectors ¹. Nationally, home inspector employment is projected to grow -0.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a home inspector in Illinois with an out-of-state license? Confirm reciprocity rules with the program and employer.

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 home inspectors earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home inspectors in Illinois is $78,340, which is $6,220 above the national median of $72,120 according to BLS data ¹.

In Illinois

Illinois Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

Top local programs

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Citations

Meet the author: Brad Fishbein is a Florida Licensed Mold Assessor and council-certified Microbial Investigator. He is the founder of TradeCareerPath.com and has completed over 5,000 mold inspections since 2009. Brad helps homeowners and tradespeople make informed decisions about mold, licensing, and skilled career paths.

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)