Highest-paying trades in Illinois
Updated September 27, 2026
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Illinois, with a median of $133,690 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 60 of the 78 trades ranked here pay more than the $51,960 median for all jobs in Illinois.
All 78 trades by median pay in Illinois
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers1,080 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $133,690$64.27/hr |
| 2 | Tapers320 jobs · +66% vs U.S. | $113,180$54.41/hr |
| 3 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers3,090 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $108,120$51.98/hr |
| 4 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay420 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $107,470$51.67/hr |
| 5 | Terrazzo workers and finishers+41% vs U.S. | $107,190$51.54/hr |
| 6 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers+79% vs U.S. | $105,580$50.76/hr |
| 7 | Structural iron and steel workers2,740 jobs · +62% vs U.S. | $101,850$48.97/hr |
| 8 | Insulation workers, mechanical1,100 jobs · +72% vs U.S. | $100,400$48.27/hr |
| 9 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters16,750 jobs · +57% vs U.S. | $99,950$48.05/hr |
| 10 | Boilermakers110 jobs · +31% vs U.S. | $99,730$47.95/hr |
| 11 | Electricians23,120 jobs · +58% vs U.S. | $99,560$47.87/hr |
| 12 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators12,290 jobs · +63% vs U.S. | $97,740$46.99/hr |
| 13 | Signal and track switch repairers720 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $95,610$45.96/hr |
| 14 | Plasterers and stucco masons270 jobs · +63% vs U.S. | $93,790$45.09/hr |
| 15 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment140 jobs · +10% vs U.S. | $93,300$44.86/hr |
| 16 | Brickmasons and blockmasons2,490 jobs · +45% vs U.S. | $89,980$43.26/hr |
| 17 | Sheet metal workers3,260 jobs · +40% vs U.S. | $86,630$41.65/hr |
| 18 | Rail car repairers1,850 jobs · +25% vs U.S. | $84,570$40.66/hr |
| 19 | Riggers120 jobs · +31% vs U.S. | $81,860$39.36/hr |
| 20 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians3,370 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $81,680$39.27/hr |
| 21 | Avionics technicians300 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $81,170$39.03/hr |
| 22 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers840 jobs · +41% vs U.S. | $79,320$38.14/hr |
| 23 | Carpenters19,570 jobs · +30% vs U.S. | $79,000$37.98/hr |
| 24 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators1,190 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $78,910$37.94/hr |
| 25 | Construction and building inspectors2,560 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $78,340$37.66/hr |
| 26 | Cement masons and concrete finishers5,890 jobs · +37% vs U.S. | $78,170$37.58/hr |
| 27 | Roofers5,300 jobs · +41% vs U.S. | $77,900$37.45/hr |
| 28 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers9,740 jobs · +27% vs U.S. | $77,410$37.21/hr |
| 29 | Industrial machinery mechanics12,100 jobs · +18% vs U.S. | $76,200$36.63/hr |
| 30 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators950 jobs · +37% vs U.S. | $73,060$35.13/hr |
| 31 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines3,470 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $71,370$34.31/hr |
| 32 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers2,460 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $70,700$33.99/hr |
| 33 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles1,330 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $69,880$33.60/hr |
| 34 | Medical equipment repairers2,620 jobs · +9% vs U.S. | $67,380$32.40/hr |
| 35 | Tile and stone setters730 jobs · +21% vs U.S. | $67,160$32.29/hr |
| 36 | Millwrights2,160 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $66,640$32.04/hr |
| 37 | Mechanical door repairers1,770 jobs · +17% vs U.S. | $65,090$31.29/hr |
| 38 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers5,760 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $64,630$31.07/hr |
| 39 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists11,320 jobs · +4% vs U.S. | $64,340$30.93/hr |
| 40 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers740 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $63,180$30.38/hr |
| 41 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers530 jobs · +20% vs U.S. | $62,870$30.23/hr |
| 42 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door250 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $61,980$29.80/hr |
| 43 | Glaziers1,410 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $61,840$29.73/hr |
| 44 | Highway maintenance workers10,790 jobs · +23% vs U.S. | $61,700$29.66/hr |
| 45 | Hazardous materials removal workers1,980 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $61,330$29.49/hr |
| 46 | Painters, construction and maintenance6,820 jobs · +24% vs U.S. | $61,260$29.45/hr |
| 47 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers780 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $61,110$29.38/hr |
| 48 | Construction laborers35,940 jobs · +29% vs U.S. | $60,690$29.18/hr |
| 49 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment1,150 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $59,950$28.82/hr |
| 50 | Security and fire alarm systems installers2,180 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $59,800$28.75/hr |
| 51 | Solar photovoltaic installers+12% vs U.S. | $59,630$28.67/hr |
| 52 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians1,770 jobs · +5% vs U.S. | $59,430$28.57/hr |
| 53 | Maintenance workers, machinery560 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $59,300$28.51/hr |
| 54 | Locksmiths and safe repairers430 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $58,110$27.94/hr |
| 55 | Home appliance repairers1,730 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $56,860$27.34/hr |
| 56 | Maintenance and repair workers, general66,600 jobs · +14% vs U.S. | $56,720$27.27/hr |
| 57 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other5,350 jobs · +13% vs U.S. | $55,780$26.82/hr |
| 58 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners1,210 jobs · +7% vs U.S. | $53,190$25.57/hr |
| 59 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall780 jobs · +8% vs U.S. | $53,000$25.48/hr |
| 60 | Automotive body and related repairers5,750 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $52,020$25.01/hr |
| 61 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other120 jobs · −26% vs U.S. | $51,350$24.69/hr |
| 62 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers16,260 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $51,320$24.67/hr |
| 63 | Fence erectors690 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $50,710$24.38/hr |
| 64 | Pipelayers280 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $49,590$23.84/hr |
| 65 | Carpet installers580 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $49,480$23.79/hr |
| 66 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners200 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $49,250$23.68/hr |
| 67 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics29,510 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $49,170$23.64/hr |
| 68 | Automotive glass installers and repairers510 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $48,860$23.49/hr |
| 69 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers710 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $48,780$23.45/hr |
| 70 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians360 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $47,840$23.00/hr |
| 71 | Recreational vehicle service technicians180 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $47,600$22.89/hr |
| 72 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles170 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $47,150$22.67/hr |
| 73 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics780 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $46,190$22.21/hr |
| 74 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers2,010 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $45,560$21.90/hr |
| 75 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers3,260 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $44,860$21.57/hr |
| 76 | Motorcycle mechanics290 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $41,630$20.02/hr |
| 77 | Tire repairers and changers3,540 jobs · +2% vs U.S. | $38,420$18.47/hr |
| 78 | Bicycle repairers660 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $37,560$18.06/hr |
Linked trades have full Illinois pay pages, with pay in each metro area. See also: highest-paying trades in the U.S.
How we ranked them
Ranked by median annual wage in Illinois, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates, May 2025. “vs U.S.” compares each trade with its own national median. Which occupations count as trades: Construction occupations and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (BLS major groups 47 and 49), plus welders, excluding first-line supervisors, helpers, and mining and oil-and-gas extraction occupations. BLS doesn't publish a Illinois median for 10 of the 88 trades in the national ranking, usually because too few people do that work there to estimate; they're left out. Wages exclude self-employed workers. Methodology
Questions
- What is the highest-paying trade in Illinois?
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers, with a median of $133,690 a year ($64.27 an hour) in Illinois, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Illinois?
- 8 trades have a median of $100,000 or more in Illinois: elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($133,690), tapers ($113,180), electrical power-line installers and repairers ($108,120), electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay ($107,470), terrazzo workers and finishers ($107,190), reinforcing iron and rebar workers ($105,580), structural iron and steel workers ($101,850), insulation workers, mechanical ($100,400).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Illinois?
- 60 of the 78 trades ranked here have a median above $51,960, the median for all occupations in Illinois.
- Do trades pay more in Illinois than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 57 of the 78 trades have a higher median in Illinois than nationally. The biggest gap is reinforcing iron and rebar workers: $105,580, 79% above the U.S. median of $58,970.
- Which trade employs the most people in Illinois?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 66,600 jobs and a median of $56,720 a year.