How to Become a Maintenance Technician in Illinois (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois employs about 66,600 maintenance technicians earning a median $56,720 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most maintenance technicians train through a trade school program or a registered apprenticeship before entering the field in Illinois.

Compare Maintenance Technician Schools in Illinois

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
159.6$3,504 in-state / $10,477 out-of-state$51,67839%Yes*60 mi
258.3$4,200 in-state / $16,385 out-of-state$48,98942%Yes*22 mi
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356.1$6,090 in-state / $13,500 out-of-state$35,36842%Yes*68 mi
455.1$4,530 in-state / $13,800 out-of-state$51,12121%Yes*52 mi
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553.4$5,220 in-state / $25,830 out-of-state$50,34332%Yes*57 mi
651.7$5,550 in-state / $13,110 out-of-state$48,94254%Yes*33 mi
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750.0$4,800 in-state / $12,150 out-of-state$55,05849%Yes*36 mi
840.9$4,284 in-state / $13,266 out-of-state$47,31532%—70 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 66,600 maintenance technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $56,720 1. Nationally, maintenance technician employment is projected to grow 3.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 159,800 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Maintenance Technician in Illinois, including 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
  • Median wage (Illinois): $56,720 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Maintenance Technician in Illinois

How to become a Maintenance Technician in Illinois? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for maintenance technicians in Illinois.

How long does it take? Most paths into the maintenance technician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do maintenance technicians earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for maintenance technicians in Illinois is $56,720 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,120 and experienced professionals can earn $80,740 or more 1.

How to Become a Maintenance Technician in Illinois

  1. Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Illinois training programs and registered apprenticeships require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
  2. 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.
  3. Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
  4. Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to maintenance technicians in Illinois before you start working.

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

Maintenance Technician 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 3.

Contact Information:

  • Office: BEST, Inc
  • Address: 815 N. Orlando Smith Ave., Oglesby, IL 61348
  • Phone: (815) 224-0375
  • Email: [email protected]

Maintenance Technician Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Maintenance and Repair Workers, General Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), maintenance and repair workers, general wages in Illinois vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin45,710$58,020$58,910$36,870$82,320
St. Louis13,170$53,930$56,440$36,320$79,330
Rockford1,980$53,610$55,820$35,900$78,850
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island1,940$51,200$54,330$35,130$77,330
Peoria1,680$50,820$54,160$34,320$77,700
Decatur1,350$61,380$63,570$43,720$74,830
Champaign-Urbana1,290$55,260$55,070$36,070$77,640
Springfield930$48,950$53,230$33,280$78,410
Bloomington710$48,070$51,940$32,730$75,840
Paducah530$45,920$48,510$30,060$72,470
Kankakee520$58,400$56,970$35,860$77,460
Cape Girardeau490$48,830$53,020$33,570$76,440

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 maintenance technicians in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 66,600 maintenance technicians 1. Nationally, maintenance technician employment is projected to grow 3.8% 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 programs in Illinois. You can also contact the Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do maintenance technicians earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for maintenance technicians in Illinois is $56,720, which is $8,100 above the national median of $48,620 according to BLS data 1.

In Illinois

Top local programs

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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

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)