Electrical Journeyman Electrician compensation in Chicago, IL. Base pay bands from entry to senior, anchored to BLS OEWS.
| Experience band | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | $42K | $50K | $58K |
| Mid | $58K | $68K | $78K |
| Senior | $78K | $89K | $100K |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2023 anchor (47-2111 — Electricians) adjusted for the Chicago metro wage index. Ranges reflect base salary excluding bonus, per-diem, and vehicle allowances.
Base pay in Chicago, IL typically runs from $42,000 at entry level to $100,000 for senior practitioners, with a market median around $68,000. Ranges are derived from BLS OEWS national data for SOC 47-2111 (Electricians) adjusted by the local Chicago wage index.
On union work in Chicago, the negotiated hourly rate plus fringe package sets the floor, and overtime, shift differential and travel or per-diem sit on top. Open-shop pay varies more widely with certifications, foreman responsibility, and productivity. The figures shown are annualized base pay at a normal schedule.
Employers screen for a valid journeyman card or state license, commercial conduit and gear installation, bending and layout speed, NEC fluency, and OSHA 10/30. Gear, switchboard, and mission-critical experience pays above scale.
These ranges represent base salary. Most commercial mechanical roles also include performance bonuses (typically 5–20% of base), benefits, 401(k) match, and — for field and service roles — paid overtime, take-home truck, and tool/per-diem allowances.
The base anchor is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2023 national median for SOC 47-2111 (Electricians). That median ($61,590) is adjusted by a local wage multiplier of 1.05 for the Chicago metro, derived from BLS MSA wage data and ACS cost indices. Gulfstream Strategic Placements further calibrates against live offers we see in the Chicago market.
Union locals publish negotiated hourly rates plus a fringe package (health, pension, annuity, training) that is paid on top of the hourly figure, so an annualized union total package can sit above an equivalent open-shop base salary. Our published wage-sheet library lets you compare a specific local's current rate against the Chicago market bands above.
Compare local wages · Published union wage sheets
On a typical commercial mechanical search we present a shortlist within days rather than weeks, because most candidates come from a network we already know. Gulfstream Strategic Placements works on contingency for most searches — you pay only when a hire starts — and every placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee.
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Yes. Gulfstream Strategic Placements runs contingency search for commercial mechanical construction employers, including electrical journeyman electrician roles in Chicago, IL. Fees are quoted in writing before a search begins and are billed only when a hire starts.
Hire a electrical journeyman electrician — start a search · Open Chicago roles