Electricians pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $124,070 or more. The middle half of electricians in Chicago earn between $74,400 and $118,660.
- $50K10th
- $74K25th
- $102KMedian
- $119K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,450 | $7,871 | $45.41 |
| Median | $102,350 | $8,529 | $49.21 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,400 | $6,200 | $35.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $118,660 | $9,888 | $57.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Electricians pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Electricians in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($92,230) and 32% more than the U.S. average ($71,490). At the median the gap is +62% against the U.S. median of $63,190.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $94,450 | $102,350 | $49,890 | $124,070 | 17,720 |
| Illinois | $92,230 | $99,560 | $49,240 | $123,660 | 23,120 |
| United States | $71,490 | $63,190 | $42,640 | $108,510 | 757,220 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Electricians salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $94,450, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $70,741 a year, or $5,895 a month and $2,721 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $72,472 | $6,039 |
| Working in IL | $70,741 | $5,895 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for electricians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $94,450 buys what about $91,172 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Electricians salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$94,450
- Kankakee$90,850
- Rockford$89,650
- Decatur$87,430
- Champaign$86,700
- Springfield$83,990
- Peoria$81,840
- Bloomington$77,520
Highest-paying cities for electricians
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($103,690).
- San Francisco, CA$103,690
- Mount Vernon, WA$103,040
- Portland, OR$103,030
- Albany, OR$100,180
- Seattle, WA$99,720
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Electricians salary in Chicago: questions
How much do electricians make an hour in Chicago?
$45.41 an hour on average, and $49.21 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level electricians salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the electricians take-home pay in Chicago?
About $70,741 a year ($5,895 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,450.
Do electricians earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 32% more than the U.S. average for this job ($71,490).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 47-2111; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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