LOW VOLTAGE TECHNICIAN
Installs data, voice, video, fire alarm, access control, security cabling. The 'electrical work without the high voltage' trade. Illinois is not a right-to-work state — union density is higher than average and prevailing wage rules cover most public projects.
The License.
Check with Illinois directly — licensing for low voltage technicianvaries by municipality in this state. There is no single state board that we can point to with confidence for this trade. Contact your local city or county building department, or check the state labor department's website.
The Money.
Pay data for this trade in Illinois. BLS metro-level data was not available for this combination. National medians shown below.
| Stage | Hourly range | Approx. annual |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 apprentice | $18–$25/hr | $36,000 – $50,000 |
| Journeyman scale | $28–$48/hr | $56,000 – $96,000 |
| BLS national median | — | $60,240 |
| BLS top 10% | — | $96,130 |
Illinois is NOT a right-to-work state. Union scale in Illinois's major metros typically runs 20–40% above the national median. Prevailing wage laws apply to most public-sector projects.
The Path.
In Illinois, apprenticeships are administered through the federal RAPIDS system via the U.S. Department of Labor. To find registered programs, go to apprenticeship.gov and filter by state. Most joint apprenticeship training committees (JATCs) also accept direct applications.
- · IBEW (some locals)
- · CWA (Communications Workers)
The Exam.
Most states use the NEC (National Electrical Code) as the basis for the journeyman and master electrician exam. Illinois may be on a different NEC edition than the current one — confirm which edition before you study. Pass rates vary significantly: some states run 50–60% first-time pass rates, others run higher. PSI Exams and Prometric administer most state electrical exams. Bring your NEC codebook (tabbed) where allowed. Prevailing wage requirements in Illinois apply to most public-sector projects, which ties exam and licensure to wage scale compliance for contractors.
Be honest about pass rates. Many licensing boards do not publish them. When they do, first-time pass rates for journeyman exams in the trades typically run 50–75%. Preparation time varies — most serious candidates spend 60–120 hours on exam prep. Use code books from the correct edition, not what's currently in print.
What recruiters won't tell you.
- 01License requirements vary wildly by state. Check before you commit.
- 02Some 'low-voltage' jobs are actually full electrical work mislabeled — verify scope.
- 03AI/data center buildout is creating a temporary boom — plan for the cycle.
- 04Illinois has no statewide electrician license — licensing is handled at the city and county level. Chicago, for example, has its own exam and journeyman card system.