Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters
$48.05/hr ($99,950/yr) · typical $34.65 to $57.72
Openings: 1,730/yrApprentices: 2,551
Illinois trade pay
Illinois trade pay runs from $21.05/hr for landscapers to $48.05/hr for plumbers, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plumbers earn the most at $48.05/hr ($99,950/yr). The state expects about 25,490 trade openings a year from 2024 to 2034, and the DOL counted 10,346 active apprentices in FY2024.
Top trade median
$48.05/hr
Plumbers
Trades published
10 of 10
BLS OEWS May 2025
Openings per year
25,490
2024 to 2034
Active apprentices
10,346
FY2024
Tracked metros
1
Chicago
State signals
What stands out in Illinois
Electricians earn 58% more in Illinois than the national median of $30.38/hr, the biggest pay premium of the 10 trades with published state pay.
Maintenance workers lead Illinois hiring demand with about 7,050 openings a year, 28% of the 25,490 annual trade openings projected statewide.
Illinois ranks #10 nationally for active electricians apprentices, with 3,045 in FY2024.
All 10 trades in Illinois
Statewide medians from BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked by median hourly pay. Each row opens the national trade hub.
Electricians
$47.87/hr ($99,560/yr) · typical $35.35 to $56.47
Openings: 2,380/yrApprentices: 3,045
Carpenters
$37.98/hr ($79,000/yr) · typical $27.00 to $51.42
Openings: 2,350/yrApprentices: 2,814
Roofers
$37.45/hr ($77,900/yr) · typical $27.81 to $49.54
Openings: 530/yrApprentices: 663
HVAC Technicians
$37.21/hr ($77,410/yr) · typical $28.94 to $46.17
Openings: 820/yrApprentices: 278
Painters (Construction & Maintenance)
$29.45/hr ($61,260/yr) · typical $23.07 to $44.82
Openings: 760/yrApprentices: 336
Maintenance & Repair Workers
$27.27/hr ($56,720/yr) · typical $21.15 to $33.02
Openings: 7,050/yrApprentices: 461
Welders
$24.67/hr ($51,320/yr) · typical $22.36 to $29.58
Openings: 1,710/yrApprentices: 98
Automotive Service Technicians
$23.64/hr ($49,170/yr) · typical $18.42 to $35.40
Openings: 2,570/yrApprentices: 75
Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers
$21.05/hr ($43,790/yr) · typical $17.60 to $22.58
Openings: 5,590/yrApprentices: 25
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025. Openings: Projections Central, 2024-2034 average annual openings. Apprentices: DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024 active apprentices; trades the DOL did not publish show n/a.
Metro pay pages
Illinois metros with trade pay pages
City-level BLS pay with year-over-year change and worker-submitted rates.
- ChicagoTrade pay in Chicago
Apprenticeship pipeline
Registered apprentices in Illinois
10,346 active apprentices across all 10 trades, per DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024. Top trades:
Electricians3,045
Carpenters2,814
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters2,551
Roofers663
Maintenance & Repair Workers461
Active apprentices, not new entrants. Find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
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Illinois trade pay questions
How much do trades workers make in Illinois?
Median pay for the 10 tracked trades in Illinois ranges from $21.05/hr for landscapers to $48.05/hr for plumbers, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Plumbers top the ranking at $48.05/hr, equal to $99,950/yr for full-time work. These are statewide medians; pay varies by city and experience.
Which trade pays the most in Illinois?
Plumbers lead Illinois at a median $48.05/hr ($99,950/yr a year), ahead of electricians at $47.87/hr. The full ranking below covers all 10 tracked trades from BLS OEWS May 2025 statewide data. Union scale, shift differentials, and overtime can push actual take-home above these medians.
How many trade job openings are there in Illinois?
Projections Central expects about 25,490 trade openings a year in Illinois from 2024 to 2034, across the 10 tracked trades. Maintenance workers lead with about 7,050 a year, followed by landscapers at 5,590. Most openings come from retirements and turnover, not new job growth.
How do I start an apprenticeship in Illinois?
Start with a registered apprenticeship: paid on-the-job training plus classroom instruction, with wages rising as you learn. The DOL counted 10,346 active trade apprentices in Illinois in FY2024, including 3,045 electricians. Programs run three to five years; find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
Which Illinois cities pay trades workers the most?
Of the tracked metros in Illinois, Chicago pays plumbers the most at $49.70/hr. Each metro pay page breaks down all 10 trades with year-over-year change and worker-submitted rates. Statewide medians above blend every metro and rural area together into one statewide figure.