Lineman salary in Illinois
Median $51.98 an hour for 3,090 linemen, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.
Lineman pay in Illinois: the full range
Illinois ranks 12th of 51 states for median lineman pay, and 19th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $51.98). 3,090 linemen work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.8× what the bottom 10% earn.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry level | $35.01 – $48.85 | $72,820 – $101,620 | roughly the 10th to 25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $48.85 – $60.79 | $101,620 – $126,440 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master, foreman or specialist | $60.79 – $62.13 | $126,440 – $129,230 | the 75th to 90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Lineman pay by metro in Illinois
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | Cost-of-living adjusted | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $35.01 | $59.34 | $57.28 | $63.35 | 1,830 | 14% above |
| Springfield | $43.06 | $51.27 | $55.31 | $55.93 | 80 | 1% below |
| St. Louis | $30.74 | $49.98 | $52.56 | $57.90 | 910 | 4% below |
| Cape Girardeau | $31.89 | $47.91 | $55.64 | $50.35 | 50 | 8% below |
| Davenport | $35.45 | $46.94 | $52.68 | $56.56 | 90 | 10% below |
| Paducah | $22.82 | $37.75 | $43.84 | $48.98 | 70 | 27% below |
Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).
Lineman wages in Illinois over time
Table
| Year | Illinois $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $24.14 | $46.65 | $20.97 | 7,620 |
| 2000 | $25.42 | $47.52 | $22.01 | 4,920 |
| 2001 | $23.22 | $42.21 | $22.70 | 6,280 |
| 2002 | $23.90 | $42.77 | $23.33 | 5,610 |
| 2003 | $17.00 | $29.74 | $23.54 | 5,060 |
| 2004 | $21.67 | $36.93 | $23.61 | 5,690 |
| 2005 | $25.69 | $42.35 | $24.11 | 4,170 |
| 2006 | $26.42 | $42.19 | $24.41 | 4,180 |
| 2007 | $27.05 | $42.00 | $25.27 | 3,800 |
| 2008 | $32.40 | $48.45 | $26.49 | 2,710 |
| 2009 | $30.85 | $46.29 | $27.24 | 3,140 |
| 2010 | $34.03 | $50.24 | $27.90 | 2,750 |
| 2011 | $33.73 | $48.28 | $28.94 | 3,720 |
| 2012 | $37.95 | $53.21 | $30.41 | 3,670 |
| 2013 | $37.63 | $52.00 | $30.85 | 4,100 |
| 2014 | $38.99 | $53.02 | $31.70 | 3,600 |
| 2015 | $36.55 | $49.65 | $31.95 | 3,200 |
| 2016 | $32.45 | $43.53 | $32.70 | 2,840 |
| 2017 | $33.60 | $44.13 | $33.36 | 3,090 |
| 2018 | $40.88 | $52.41 | $34.09 | 3,320 |
| 2019 | $43.49 | $54.77 | $34.86 | 4,120 |
| 2020 | $44.29 | $55.09 | $36.07 | 4,450 |
| 2021 | $47.62 | $56.58 | $37.65 | 5,590 |
| 2022 | $49.43 | $54.38 | $39.59 | 4,550 |
| 2023 | $51.22 | $54.12 | $41.07 | 4,550 |
| 2024 | $50.95 | $52.29 | $44.50 | 3,670 |
| 2025 | $51.98 | $51.98 | $45.83 | 3,090 |
In today's dollars, the median lineman wage in Illinois changed by +4.7% over the last ten years of data and by -5.1% since 2019.
Are there more lineman jobs in Illinois?
Since 1999, the number of linemen counted in Illinois has changed by -59.4%, against +32.3% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by -25.0%.
Table
| Year | Illinois jobs | Illinois index | US index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 7,620 | 100 | 100 |
| 2000 | 4,920 | 65 | 97 |
| 2001 | 6,280 | 82 | 100 |
| 2002 | 5,610 | 74 | 97 |
| 2003 | 5,060 | 66 | 96 |
| 2004 | 5,690 | 75 | 103 |
| 2005 | 4,170 | 55 | 107 |
| 2006 | 4,180 | 55 | 112 |
| 2007 | 3,800 | 50 | 111 |
| 2008 | 2,710 | 36 | 113 |
| 2009 | 3,140 | 41 | 110 |
| 2010 | 2,750 | 36 | 106 |
| 2011 | 3,720 | 49 | 106 |
| 2012 | 3,670 | 48 | 114 |
| 2013 | 4,100 | 54 | 112 |
| 2014 | 3,600 | 47 | 116 |
| 2015 | 3,200 | 42 | 116 |
| 2016 | 2,840 | 37 | 119 |
| 2017 | 3,090 | 41 | 118 |
| 2018 | 3,320 | 44 | 116 |
| 2019 | 4,120 | 54 | 113 |
| 2020 | 4,450 | 58 | 116 |
| 2021 | 5,590 | 73 | 125 |
| 2022 | 4,550 | 60 | 121 |
| 2023 | 4,550 | 60 | 121 |
| 2024 | 3,670 | 48 | 125 |
| 2025 | 3,090 | 41 | 132 |
Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.
Outlook for linemen in Illinois
Illinois's labor market agency projects the number of linemen in the state to change by +9.7% between 2024 and 2034, from 3,650 to 4,000, with about 320 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +10.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 3,090 counted by the BLS employer survey.
Source: Illinois labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).
Union scale and prevailing wage for linemen in Illinois
On federally funded construction in Illinois, contractors must pay linemen at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 8 of the 8 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $99.39 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical —). The market median for the state is $51.98.
| County | Rate source | Base | Fringe | Total | Determination |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook | Union ELEC0009-003 2024-05-26 | $62.10 | $37.29 | $99.39 | IL20260009 |
| DuPage | Union ELEC0009-002 2024-05-26 | $62.10 | $37.29 | $99.39 | IL20260008 |
| Grundy | Union ELEC0009-002 2024-05-26 | $62.10 | $37.29 | $99.39 | IL20260008 |
| Kane | Union ELEC0009-002 2024-05-26 | $62.10 | $37.29 | $99.39 | IL20260008 |
| Kendall | Union ELEC0009-002 2024-05-26 | $62.10 | $37.29 | $99.39 | IL20260008 |
| Lake | Union ELEC0009-002 2024-05-26 | $62.10 | $37.29 | $99.39 | IL20260008 |
| McHenry | Union ELEC0009-002 2024-05-26 | $62.10 | $37.29 | $99.39 | IL20260008 |
| Will | Union ELEC0009-002 2024-05-26 | $62.10 | $37.29 | $99.39 | IL20260008 |
Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Illinois prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.
Is construction work growing in Illinois?
Keep comparing
Lineman pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Illinois
More on Illinois
Questions this page answers
How much do linemen make in Illinois?
The median lineman in Illinois earned $51.98 an hour ($108,120 a year) in May 2025, 13% above the national median of $45.83. The middle half earn $48.85–$60.79; the top 10% earn more than $62.13.
Where does Illinois rank for lineman pay?
Illinois ranks 12th of 51 states for lineman pay, with a median of $51.98 an hour, and 19th after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (BEA price parity 100.0, US = 100).
What is the union lineman rate in Illinois?
Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for linemen in 8 counties, with a typical package of $99.39 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.
How many linemen work in Illinois?
BLS counted 3,090 linemen in Illinois in May 2025, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 0.60; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Is lineman work growing in Illinois?
The BLS employer survey count of linemen in Illinois went from 3,200 in 2015 to 3,090 in 2025, -3.4%, and -25.0% since 2019. Illinois's labor market agency projects +9.7% growth for linemen between 2024 and 2034, from 3,650 to 4,000 jobs.
How many lineman openings a year are there in Illinois?
Illinois projects about 320 openings a year for linemen over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 10,900 a year.
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Illinois and metro areas, SOC 49-9051. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. Not the official determination.
- BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
- State projection: Illinois labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.