Illinois · BLS OEWS May 2025
Lineworker salary in Illinois: $108,120 median, no degree required
When the storm knocks the grid out, somebody climbs the pole. In Illinois that somebody earns a median $108,120, with the top 10% above $129,230, and storm season overtime on top of that is legendary in this trade. Line work is a paid union apprenticeship, roughly four years from groundman to journeyman lineman, starting near $64,872. It is physical, it is weather, and it is high-voltage respect-the-work reality every day, which is exactly why the pay holds. Our 10-year model puts a Illinois lineworker $683,279 ahead of the average college path. Few trades earn their money more visibly than this one.
Reviewed by Brad Zemke, third-generation tradesman, 20+ years in the field.
Lineworker pay in Illinois
BLS OEWS May 2025 · 3,090 employed
| Wage level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th percentile) | $72,820 | $35.01/hr |
| 25th percentile | $101,620 | $48.86/hr |
| Median wage | $108,120 | $51.98/hr |
| 75th percentile | $126,440 | $60.79/hr |
| Top earners (90th percentile) | $129,230 | $62.13/hr |
The 10-year picture
Lineworker vs college in Illinois
- Lineworker, 10 years in
- $1,004,720
- cumulative earnings minus training costs
- College path, 10 years in
- $321,441
- avg degree, $37,850 debt, $11,568 interest paid
- Head start
- $683,279
- trade path is in the black by year 1; college by year 6
Cumulative earnings net of education costs and loan interest; taxes and living costs excluded from both paths. Full math and sources on the methodology page.
The apprenticeship
How you get in
The path in Illinois runs through an IBEW/NECA line apprenticeship or a utility's own program: paid from day one, stepped raises over about four years, groundman to apprentice to journeyman. Optional line school beforehand can help you get selected but is not required. Expect a CDL requirement early; crews move equipment.
Training cost in our model: $5,000. First-year pay near $64,872.
Licensing
What IL requires
There is no state license like plumbing or electrical inside-wire work; qualification runs through the apprenticeship, utility certifications, and OSHA-regulated safety training. In Illinois, journeyman status through a registered line apprenticeship is the credential that travels between utilities and contractors.
FAQ
Lineworker questions, answered straight
How much do lineworkers make in Illinois?
The median lineworker wage in Illinois is $108,120 a year ($51.98/hr) per BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The top 10% earn $129,230 or more. Entry-level pay starts around $72,820.
Is becoming a lineworker worth it compared to college in Illinois?
On the 10-year math, yes. Our model puts a Illinois lineworker at $1,004,720 in cumulative net earnings after 10 years, versus $321,441 for the average bachelor's path. That is a $683,279 head start, mostly because you earn while you train instead of paying tuition for four years.
How many lineworkers work in Illinois?
BLS counts 3,090 employed lineworkers in Illinois as of the May 2025 OEWS survey.
Is line work dangerous?
It is serious work around serious voltage, and the trade never pretends otherwise. Training, procedures, and gear are drilled constantly, and the culture is safety-first because it has to be. The pay reflects both the skill and the stakes.
What is storm work?
When hurricanes or ice storms hit, crews travel to restore power, often on premium pay with long hours. Storm seasons are where lineworkers famously out-earn their own median. Base pay in Illinois is $108,120 before any of that.
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Same trade, top pay
Other trades in Illinois
- Electrician $99,560
- Plumber $99,950
- HVAC Technician $77,410
- Welder $51,320
- Carpenter $79,000
- Diesel Mechanic $64,340
- Elevator Installer $133,690
- Wind Turbine Technician $64,120
- Auto Mechanic $49,170
- Aircraft Mechanic $81,680
- Heavy Equipment Operator $97,740
- CDL Truck Driver $60,320
Lineworkers next door
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 49-9051, 3,090 employed in Illinois. ROI model assumptions and sources: methodology.