Statewide pay Government data
Carpenters in Illinois earn a statewide median of $79,000 a year, 41% above the typical U.S. metro, ranking #2 of 50 states and DC. About 19,570 people work in the trade statewide.
Statewide pay range
States ranked near Illinois
See all states on the carpenters nationwide.
Pay by city Government data
BLS publishes carpenter pay for 8 Illinois metros: Bloomington, Champaign, Chicago, Decatur, Kankakee, Peoria, Rockford and Springfield.
| Metro | Median pay | Real pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| KankakeeILLINOIS · IL | $95,280 | $98,844 | 120 |
| DecaturILLINOIS · IL | $87,220 | $98,641 | 180 |
| ChicagoILLINOIS · IL | $80,440 | $77,649 | 14,220 |
| SpringfieldILLINOIS · IL | $76,970 | $82,991 | 290 |
| BloomingtonILLINOIS · IL | $75,470 | $80,685 | 170 |
| PeoriaILLINOIS · IL | $75,280 | $82,516 | 780 |
| RockfordILLINOIS · IL | $72,770 | $78,966 | 810 |
| ChampaignILLINOIS · IL | $66,980 | $72,251 | 310 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Pay outside the cities Government data
BLS also reports pay for Illinois's rural (nonmetropolitan) regions.
BLS OEWS nonmetropolitan areas, May 2025.
The job (national)
Construct, erect, install, or repair structures and fixtures made of wood and comparable materials, such as concrete forms; building frameworks, including partitions, joists, studding, and rafters; and wood stairways, window and door frames, and hardwood floors. May also install cabinets, siding, drywall, and batt or roll insulation. Includes brattice builders who build doors or brattices (ventilation walls or partitions) in underground passageways.
Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, with about 62,800 openings a year. Typical training: apprenticeship.
Nationally, carpenters have 165 injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work per 10,000 full-time workers, 1.9× the rate for all jobs (87). The most common cause is being struck by or caught in objects and equipment.
What the work is like Government data
How often carpenters deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.
Getting started usually takes some preparation (high school plus months of training).
O*NET 31.0 Work Context and Job Zones (U.S. Department of Labor), national.
Getting started: registered apprenticeship Government data
Most carpenters train through a paid apprenticeship: you work and earn under experienced pros while taking classes, and pay usually rises as you progress. 727,586 people were active registered apprentices nationwide in FY2026, up 87% since FY2016, and construction is the largest field with 290,043 of them (40%), according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Search apprenticeship openings ↗Find training programs & sponsors ↗
Official U.S. Department of Labor tools at Apprenticeship.gov. Counts: DOL Apprentices by State dashboard, FY2026 (all occupations).
Licensing in Illinois Official source
The main state licensing office in Illinois is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Most trades (including general contractors and electricians) are licensed locally; plumbers are licensed by the state health department. It can point you to the right license for carpenters.
Official Illinois licensing site ↗
Requirements for carpenters vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Cities in Illinois
All trades in Illinois.