How to Become a Journeyman Electrician in Illinois
Illinois licenses electrical contractors at the state level — journeyman licensing happens at the city or county level. Here is the full path: state contractor requirements, municipal journeyman licensing, apprenticeship options, realistic pay, and how to carry your credentials into other states.
Contractor-level
No statewide journeyman license
$0
journeyman fees
36 IBEW locals
Union apprenticeship paths
$40/hr
State median, all tiers (from 9 postings)
1. Illinois journeyman licensing requirements
No statewide journeyman license. Illinois licenses electrical work at the contractor level through the No statewide agency — Illinois has no state electrician license; individual journeymen are licensed by the city or county where they work. Your path: complete an apprenticeship, get your journeyman card municipally, then pursue state contractor licensure to pull permits and run work.
- Exam: required — No state license — each municipality administers its own exam. Chicago's Registered Supervising Electrician (RSE) exam is among the hardest municipal exams in the country.
- journeyman fee: $0 (No state license — fees set by each municipality. Chicago RSE exam and license fees via the City of Chicago.)
2. Apprenticeship paths: IBEW union + registered programs
36 IBEW locals serve Illinois (Locals 9, 15, 16, 19, 21 and 31 more). Union apprentices train through the local JATC while earning a scaled wage. Browse Illinois IBEW locals →
Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) and Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) chapters also run accredited programs — chapter directories are being added to this guide.
3. Timeline and cost: what apprentices earn
Apprentice-specific postings are still thin for Illinois. Across 9 disclosed postings, the state median across all tiers is $40/hr; apprentices typically earn 40–60% of this. See live ranges on our pay page for Illinois →
4. Take your license on the road: reciprocity
Illinois offers no formal journeyman reciprocity — out-of-state electricians apply through the standard path. Details and alternatives: Illinois reciprocity guide →
Frequently asked questions
How many hours does it take to become a journeyman electrician in Illinois?
Illinois licenses electrical contractors at the state level, not individual journeymen — there is no statewide journeyman hour requirement.
What does an electrical apprentice earn in Illinois?
Based on 9 disclosed postings, the state median across all tiers is $40/hr; apprentices typically earn 40–60% of this.
Can I apprentice through the union in Illinois?
Yes — 36 IBEW locals serve Illinois with registered apprenticeship programs.
Keep exploring
Journeyman pay in Illinois
Market rates from live postings vs BLS vs IBEW scale.
IBEW locals in Illinois
Union halls, apprenticeship programs, and scales.
Illinois prevailing wage
Davis-Bacon rates by county and classification.
Where the work is
Data center builds on the live construction map.
Illinois reciprocity guide
Partner states, fees, timelines, and transfer steps.
All state pathways
Compare the journeyman path across all 51 jurisdictions.