"How long does it take to become a home inspector in Illinois?"

"Most paths into the home inspector 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 home inspectors 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 Home Inspector in Illinois

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: "Do home inspectors need a license in Illinois?"

"Yes. Illinois requires state-level licensing or registration for home inspectors, administered by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

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 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.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Home Inspector in Illinois

How do I become a home inspector in Illinois? Illinois requires credentials such as LICENSED HOME INSPECTOR. The licensing authority is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

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.

Do I need a license in Illinois? Yes. Illinois has licensing or registration requirements for home inspectors. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

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.

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 Financial and Professional Regulation
Median wage (Illinois): $78,340 per year ¹

Home Inspector License Requirements in Illinois

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation oversees home inspector licensing in Illinois ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
LICENSED HOME INSPECTOR	A person who is responsible for examining a home to identify any potential issues or problems that may exist.

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

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 (2025 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 2025.

Top Metros for Home inspectors in Illinois

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest home inspector employment within Illinois according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	1,840	$82,640
Champaign-Urbana	70	$73,350
Springfield	60	$56,610
Bloomington	50	$79,250
Peoria	50	$62,350

Explore home inspector programs in Chicago, Champaign, and Springfield.

Explore More Trades in Illinois

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? Contact the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation 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 accredited 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.

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation - Licensing Information: https://www.idfpr.com/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

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)