Illinois prevailing wage rates

What is the prevailing wage rate in Illinois?

It depends on the trade and on the county where the work is done. Taking each trade's main rate in each county, IDOL's figures run from $48.77 an hour (roofer, Crawford County) to $121.85 (operating engineer, Cook County), base wage plus fringe benefits. Pick a county or a trade below for the exact rate.

Rates by trade

Each trade page maps that trade's main rate in every county. Carpenters, for example, range from $65.70 to $108.33 an hour.

• Asbestos & Lead Abatement Laborer$57.15–$92.11
• Boilermaker$84.16–$103.35
• Bricklayer$62.35–$96.65
• Carpenter$65.70–$108.33
• Carpet & Soft Floor Layer$67.22
• Cement Mason$60.33–$100.85
• Concrete Specialist$96.70
• Construction Inspector & Materials Tester$82.11–$89.44
• Drywall Installer / Lather$65.70–$108.33
• Electrical Utility Lineman$82.13–$107.20
• Electrician$68.48–$112.66
• Elevator Constructor$102.45–$118.52
• Fence Builder$68.29–$98.13
• Field Surveyor$92.11–$97.04
• Glazier$57.45–$101.60
• Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker)$62.31–$96.92
• Ironworker$64.65–$113.03
• Laborer$55.65–$92.11
• Machinery Mover$82.81
• Machinist$89.59
• Marble Finisher$51.07–$82.85
• Marble Mason$55.88–$94.54
• Millwright$71.48–$108.33
• Operating Engineer$76.13–$121.85
• Painter$52.67–$93.26
• Pile Driver$65.70–$108.33
• Plasterer$60.33–$97.06
• Plumber / Pipefitter$69.11–$103.02
• Roofer$48.77–$86.03
• Sheet Metal Worker$63.72–$105.11
• Sign Installer$52.35–$82.81
• Striping & Traffic Control Worker$67.03
• Teamster (Truck Driver)$62.80–$79.26
• Telecommunications Technician$49.42–$96.27
• Terrazzo Finisher$51.07–$88.17
• Terrazzo Worker$55.88–$93.82
• Tile Finisher$51.07–$84.82
• Tile Setter$55.88–$97.41
• Tuckpointer$62.35–$90.79

How Illinois's prevailing wage rules work

• Which projects. The Prevailing Wage Act covers workers on public works built or paid for, wholly or partly, by a public body, including bond-, grant- and loan-financed projects and maintenance work. Work done directly by a public utility company is excluded (820 ILCS 130/2).
• Which workers. Workers employed by contractors and subcontractors on the site, plus drivers moving materials and equipment to and from it. Suppliers' delivery drivers and off-site manufacturing are not covered. Maintenance pays the same rate as construction (820 ILCS 130/3).
• The county of the work sets the rate. “Locality” is the county where the physical work is done, with narrow exceptions (820 ILCS 130/2).
• Revised rates apply to jobs already under way. Illinois doesn't lock rates at bid. When IDOL revises a rate, “the revised rate shall apply to such contract”, and a missing notice from the public body doesn't excuse the contractor from paying it or from back wages (820 ILCS 130/4(g), (j), (l)).
• When rates change. IDOL surveys in June and publishes the year's schedule by July 15 (820 ILCS 130/9), then posts revisions. 2026's postings took effect on Jan 15, Mar 2, Apr 15, May 21, Jul 15, Aug 15, Sep 21 and Oct 19. Each replaces all 102 county schedules (IDOL historical rates).
• Overtime is a multiple of the base wage. IDOL's legend: “Unless otherwise noted, OT pay is required for any hour greater than 8 worked each day, Mon through Fri. The number listed is the multiple of the base wage.” Saturday, Sunday and holiday multiples apply to every hour on those days.
• Work type and region matter. One trade can have separate Building, Highway, Floating, Oil & Chip or Rivers rates, and 672 rates cover only part of a county. IDOL describes each region's boundary in the county schedule.
• Records and notice. Contractors file certified payroll with IDOL by the 15th of each month and keep records for 5 years (820 ILCS 130/5), and must post the rates on the job site or give each worker written notice (820 ILCS 130/4(n)). An underpaid worker can sue for the difference (820 ILCS 130/4(g)).