Critical Facilities Technician Pay in Illinois
Updated 2026-10-30 · Based on 5 active job postings with disclosed pay · Compared to BLS OES data · 5 postings in the last 90 days, up 200% vs. run rate
ElectricianDB tracks 5 active critical facilities technicians openings in Illinois, 5 with disclosed pay. Median hourly pay is $40, with the middle 50% earning $40–$40.
Compared to the national median of $40/hr, Illinois pays right at the national median.
The Illinois electrician labor market
Illinois is a high-rate, high-union-density electrician market dominated by Chicago and lifted by state prevailing wage. Chicagoland's commercial towers, hospital systems, O'Hare expansion work, and university construction provide deep year-round volume, all running substantially through IBEW Local 134 — one of the largest and highest-scale electrical locals in the country — whose rates set the regional ceiling. The collar counties add warehouse and data center construction along the I-88 and I-55 corridors, where hyperscale developers target the Chicago market for its fiber density and power. Downstate, the market shifts industrial: ADM and food processing in Decatur, John Deere in the Quad Cities and Peoria, refineries around Joliet and Wood River, and a growing EV-battery footprint (Gotion's Manteno plant) sustain maintenance and instrumentation electricians. Licensing is municipal — Chicago's supervising-electrician regime is famously strict, with no single statewide journeyman ticket — which segments mobility but protects organized rates in the city. Illinois prevailing wage covers virtually all public work and is among the strongest statutes in the nation, making school, infrastructure, and municipal projects premium assignments. Key locals beyond 134 include Local 9 (Chicago systems/outside), Local 601 (Champaign/Urbana), Local 193 (Springfield), Local 146 (Decatur/Peoria), and Local 364 (Rockford). The workforce story is replacement demand: retirements in the union pipeline outpace apprentice graduations, contractors report chronic journeyman shortages, and the data center plus battery-plant wave is arriving on top of already-full order books. For electricians, Chicago offers top-decile rates with cost-of-living pressure; downstate industrial tickets offer the best rate-to-cost ratio in the Midwest.
Government data (BLS)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Illinois Electricians wages (May 2025 OES): median $47.87, 75th percentile $56.47, 90th percentile $59.45.
Source: BLS OES Illinois (May 2025 OES)
Our postings median ($40/hr) runs 16% below the BLS statewide median — posted openings skew toward lower-paying roles than the survey average.
Union data (IBEW)
| Local | City | Journeyman base ($/hr) | Contract | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 364 | Rockford | $67.09 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
| 461 | Aurora | $64.16 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
| 134 | Chicago | $63.15 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
| 117 | Crystal Lake | $62.22 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
| 176 | Joliet | $61 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
Pay comparison
| Metric | Our Data | BLS | IBEW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median ($/hr) | $40 | $47.87 | $52.49 |
| 25th percentile ($/hr) | $40 | — | — |
| 75th percentile ($/hr) | $40 | $56.47 | — |
| 90th percentile ($/hr) | — | $59.45 | — |
| Sample size | 5 postings | OES survey | 17 locals |
| Source | ElectricianDB | BLS OES | Listed above |
Why the columns differ: our percentiles come from 5 live postings (median + middle 50%). The BLS column shows the three percentiles our dataset carries (median, 75th, 90th) — BLS publishes more than we import. IBEW figures are journeyman base rates (median across 17 in-state locals), not survey percentiles. How we calculate pay →
Highest-paying critical facilities technicians openings in Illinois
- Critical Facilities Technician — Aligned Data Centers (Northlake) · $35–$47/hr
- Critical Facilities Technician — Aligned Data Centers (Elk Grove Village) · $35–$45/hr
- Critical Facilities Technician — Aligned Data Centers (Elk Grove Village) · $35–$45/hr
- Critical Facilities Technician — Aligned Data Centers (Northlake) · $35–$45/hr
- Critical Facilities Technician — Aligned Data Centers (Elk Grove Village) · $35–$45/hr
Active projects driving demand
- I-88/I-55 corridor data center and warehouse construction (data center)
- Gotion EV battery plant (Manteno) (industrial)
- O'Hare expansion and Chicago commercial pipeline (commercial)
- Downstate refinery and food-processing maintenance (industrial)
IBEW locals in Illinois
Sample postings
Pay above is sourced from active postings including:
- Aligned Data Centers – Critical Facilities Technician – $35 – $45/hr (Elk Grove Village, IL) View posting →
- Aligned Data Centers – Critical Facilities Technician – $35 – $45/hr (Northlake, IL) View posting →
- Aligned Data Centers – Critical Facilities Technician – $35 – $47/hr (Northlake, IL) View posting →
Top employers hiring critical facilities technicians in Illinois
Critical Facilities Technician openings in Illinois
Frequently asked questions
What does a critical facilities technician earn in Illinois?
Based on 5 active postings on ElectricianDB, median hourly pay is $40, with the middle 50% earning $40–$40. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a Illinois median of $47.87 for Electricians (May 2025 OES). IBEW journeyman base rates across 17 in-state locals median $52.49/hr.
How does Illinois compare to the national median?
Illinois matches the national median of $40/hr for critical facilities technicians.
Who pays critical facilities technicians the most in Illinois?
Among employers with disclosed pay, the most active are Aligned Data Centers (5 postings).
What does an electrician make in Illinois?
Based on 5 disclosed-pay postings tracked by ElectricianDB, the median hourly pay for critical facilities technician work in Illinois is $40.00/hr. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a statewide electrician median of $47.87/hr.
Where are the highest-paying electrician jobs in Illinois?
The strongest recent postings cluster around Northlake, Elk Grove Village. Top-end rates on active postings run above the $40.00/hr median — see the highest-paying openings listed on this page for current examples.
Which employers pay electricians the most in Illinois?
Among employers with repeated postings in Illinois, Aligned Data Centers show the highest average disclosed minimums. Averages reflect posted ranges, not verified take-home pay.
Do you need a Illinois electrician license to work there?
Most states require a license for unsupervised electrical work, and requirements vary by state and municipality — see our step-by-step licensing pathway for Illinois for the exact hours, exam, and fees.
What's the prevailing wage for electricians in Illinois?
Prevailing-wage coverage depends on federal and state funding rules that differ by project and jurisdiction — see Illinois prevailing wage rates for the current determinations.
How many electrician jobs are posted in Illinois right now?
ElectricianDB is currently tracking 5 disclosed-pay critical facilities technician postings in Illinois. Counts change as contractors post and fill roles.
More on Illinois
Already licensed in Illinois? Check Illinois reciprocity →