Electrician Jobs in Illinois

Illinois Electrical Licensing Requirements

Here's what you need to know about getting licensed in Illinois. The state requires licensing through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). You'll need to pass both a written exam and practical assessment.

State License Types: Illinois offers Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master Electrician licenses. You need 8,000 hours of supervised work experience plus 576 hours of classroom instruction to qualify for the journeyman exam. Master electricians need additional experience and can supervise other electricians.

Chicago Special Requirements: If you're working in Chicago, you need both the state license AND a separate Chicago electrical license. Chicago has its own exam and requirements on top of the state stuff. It's a pain, but that's where the money is, so most guys just deal with it.

Reciprocity: Illinois has limited reciprocity. If you're already licensed in another state, check with IDFPR - sometimes they'll give you credit for experience, but you might still need to take their exam.

Apprenticeship Programs - How to Get Started

The JATC programs here are top-notch. Local 134's training center in Alsip is probably the best electrical training facility in the country. They'll teach you everything from basic wiring to high-voltage work. It's competitive to get in, but if you make it, you'll come out knowing your trade inside and out.

Application Process: Most IBEW locals accept applications once or twice a year. You'll need a high school diploma, pass an aptitude test, and interview. Having some electrical coursework or related experience helps, but it's not required.

What You'll Earn: First-year apprentices start around 50% of journeyman scale and get raises every 6 months. In Chicago, that means starting around $22-25/hour and ending up at full scale after four years.

Non-Union Options: IEC (Independent Electrical Contractors) also runs apprenticeship programs if you don't want to go union. Community colleges like Triton and College of DuPage have electrical programs too.

Union vs. Non-Union - The Real Deal

Let's be real - if you can get into the IBEW here, do it. Local 134 in Chicago is one of the strongest locals in the country. The scale is high, the benefits are excellent, and the work never stops. Local 146 covers the suburbs, and they're solid too. Downstate locals like 193 in Springfield pay less but the cost of living is way lower, so it works out.

Union Benefits: Health insurance, pension, annuity fund, and job security. Plus, union contractors tend to get the bigger commercial and industrial jobs. The training is excellent, and you'll work with crews who know their stuff.

Non-Union Side: More flexibility in your work, potentially faster advancement, and sometimes more variety in day-to-day tasks. Residential and smaller commercial contractors are often non-union. The money can be good if you're hustling and have the right skills.

Chicago High-Rise Work

Working the towers in downtown Chicago is something else. You're dealing with massive electrical systems, sometimes working hundreds of feet up, and the tolerances are tight. The money reflects the difficulty - high-rise specialists can pretty much name their price. But you better know your stuff and be comfortable with heights. One mistake and you're not just fired, you could be dead.

What You Need: Most high-rise work requires OSHA 30-hour certification, and many contractors want scaffold and rigging experience. Being comfortable working at heights is obvious, but you also need to understand complex electrical distribution systems and be able to read complicated blueprints.

Industrial and Manufacturing Work

Illinois manufacturing employs thousands of industrial electricians in automotive plants, steel mills, food processing facilities, and chemical plants. Caterpillar's heavy equipment manufacturing, Boeing's aerospace facilities, and Abbott's pharmaceutical operations provide steady industrial electrical work throughout the state.

Skills That Pay: PLC programming, motor controls, and instrumentation work command premium wages. If you can troubleshoot a production line that's down, you'll never be out of work. Many plants prefer electricians with mechanical aptitude too - being able to work on motors, drives, and automation systems makes you valuable.

Utility and Power Company Jobs

ComEd operates Illinois' electrical grid and regularly hires utility electricians and linemen for power distribution and transmission work. The utility offers excellent benefits and job security for electrical professionals interested in power system operations.

Getting In: Most utilities want linemen with CDL licenses and completion of a lineman program. Northwest Lineman College has campuses in Illinois, and many community colleges offer utility programs. Starting wages are good, and the benefits are excellent, but expect to work storms and overtime.

Continuing Education and Certifications

Illinois requires continuing education to maintain your license. You need 16 hours every two years for journeymen, 20 hours for masters. Most contractors will pay for this, and there are plenty of options - from code updates to specialty training.

Valuable Certifications: OSHA 30, NFPA 70E (arc flash), Low voltage/Fire alarm (NICET), Solar installation (NABCEP), and Motor control center work. These can boost your hourly rate significantly.

Transportation and Infrastructure Work

O'Hare International Airport, one of the world's busiest airports, employs electrical professionals for terminal operations, runway lighting, baggage systems, and aircraft maintenance facilities. The ongoing O'Hare modernization program creates additional opportunities for airport electrical specialists.

CTA and Transit Work: The Chicago Transit Authority has ongoing electrical needs for the L system and bus operations. Metra commuter rail also needs electrical contractors. This work often requires security clearances and specialized training.

Cost of Living and Quality of Life

Chicago's ongoing construction boom includes major projects like Lincoln Yards, The 78, and countless high-rise developments. These projects require skilled electricians for everything from basic electrical rough-in to complex building automation systems. Chicago's electricians work on some of America's most technically challenging projects with premium pay rates.

Suburbs vs. City: Living in the suburbs and commuting in for work is common. You get more house for your money, and the commute usually isn't terrible. Downstate Illinois is significantly cheaper - Peoria, Rockford, Springfield all have reasonable housing costs and shorter commutes.

That said, it's a great place to build a career. The work is diverse, the training is excellent, and you're in one of the major electrical markets in the country. Plus, you get actual seasons, decent pizza, and the Cubs (or Sox, if that's your thing).