Highest-paying trades in Illinois
28 trades ranked by median hourly wage, with the range, the rank among states and the union scale.
Every trade in Illinois, ranked by median pay
| # | Trade | Median $/hr | Median $/yr | 90th pct $/hr | Jobs | State rank | 10-yr real change | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator mechanic | $64.27 | $133,690 | $80.16 | 1,080 | 9th of 37 | +18.9% | 22% above |
| 2 | Construction manager | $52.48 | $109,160 | $82.89 | 19,160 | 28th of 51 | -12.3% | 5% below |
| 3 | Lineman | $51.98 | $108,120 | $62.13 | 3,090 | 12th of 51 | +4.7% | 13% above |
| 4 | Construction supervisor | $50.84 | $105,750 | $63.75 | 19,340 | 2nd of 51 | +1.9% | 32% above |
| 5 | Ironworker | $48.97 | $101,850 | $59.83 | 2,740 | 4th of 50 | -14.9% | 62% above |
| 6 | Plumber | $48.05 | $99,950 | $60.79 | 16,750 | 2nd of 51 | -3.2% | 57% above |
| 7 | Boilermaker | $47.95 | $99,730 | $56.38 | 110 | 4th of 37 | +18.9% | 31% above |
| 8 | Electrician | $47.87 | $99,560 | $59.45 | 23,120 | 2nd of 51 | -1.0% | 58% above |
| 9 | Heavy equipment operator | $46.99 | $97,740 | $59.30 | 12,290 | 2nd of 51 | -3.6% | 63% above |
| 10 | Plasterer | $45.09 | $93,790 | $50.83 | 270 | 4th of 28 | -17.1% | 63% above |
| 11 | Brickmason | $43.26 | $89,980 | $52.73 | 2,490 | 3rd of 50 | -13.9% | 45% above |
| 12 | Sheet metal worker | $41.65 | $86,630 | $56.69 | 3,260 | 5th of 50 | -17.5% | 40% above |
| 13 | Carpenter | $37.98 | $79,000 | $56.57 | 19,570 | 2nd of 51 | +5.4% | 30% above |
| 14 | Cement mason | $37.58 | $78,170 | $51.77 | 5,890 | 3rd of 51 | +3.0% | 37% above |
| 15 | Roofer | $37.45 | $77,900 | $51.22 | 5,300 | 1st of 51 | +36.9% | 41% above |
| 16 | HVAC technician | $37.21 | $77,410 | $56.51 | 9,740 | 3rd of 51 | +9.4% | 27% above |
| 17 | Tile setter | $32.29 | $67,160 | $54.22 | 730 | 7th of 47 | +5.0% | 21% above |
| 18 | Millwright | $32.04 | $66,640 | $50.93 | 2,160 | 20th of 48 | -0.9% | 1% above |
| 19 | Diesel mechanic | $30.93 | $64,340 | $46.96 | 11,320 | 18th of 51 | +2.7% | 4% above |
| 20 | Drywall installer | $30.38 | $63,180 | $53.18 | 740 | 8th of 49 | -13.5% | 7% above |
| 21 | Glazier | $29.73 | $61,840 | $49.04 | 1,410 | 13th of 50 | +12.0% | 8% above |
| 22 | Crane operator | $29.72 | $61,820 | $63.12 | 1,220 | 37th of 50 | +15.0% | 9% below |
| 23 | Painter | $29.45 | $61,260 | $50.65 | 6,820 | 2nd of 51 | -8.4% | 24% above |
| 24 | Construction laborer | $29.18 | $60,690 | $50.50 | 35,940 | 4th of 51 | -10.2% | 29% above |
| 25 | Solar installer | $28.67 | $59,630 | $49.74 | — | 9th of 32 | — | 12% above |
| 26 | Machinist | $28.13 | $58,520 | $37.64 | 16,520 | 30th of 51 | +17.6% | about the same as |
| 27 | Insulation worker | $25.48 | $53,000 | $45.76 | 780 | 15th of 48 | — | 8% above |
| 28 | Welder | $24.67 | $51,320 | $36.89 | 16,260 | 34th of 51 | +4.8% | 5% below |
Construction jobs in Illinois
Prevailing wage in Illinois
Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In Illinois, 102 of 102 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $83.99/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.
Metros in Illinois
Questions this page answers
What is the highest-paying trade in Illinois?
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $64.27 an hour in May 2025, followed by construction managers ($52.48) and electrical power-line installers and repairers ($51.98).
How does Illinois compare with the rest of the country?
Across the 28 trades listed, 24 pay above the national median in Illinois and 4 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 100.0% of the US average (BEA).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Illinois.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics through 2026-08.
- BEA Regional Price Parities.
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).