Illinois — Level Index
How do Illinois contractors compare to the national average? Bill rates, collection rates, margins, and utilization data from 112+ Illinois contractors across HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, and more.
Key Finding
Illinois contractors bill $49/hr above the national median
Illinois leads the nation in contractor bill rates at $128/hr median. Chicago's union environment, prevailing wage requirements, and commercial density drive rates well above even coastal markets.
For a 10-tech shop, that $49/hr difference means $980K per year in additional revenue compared to the national median.
Illinois Bill Rates
Median Bill Rate
$128/hr
75th Percentile
$148/hr
Top 10%
$172/hr
National Benchmarks
These metrics are reported nationally. Where your Illinois business falls depends on your specific operations. See the full national breakdown.
Collection Rate
80.8%
Top quartile: 92.7%
n=587 companies
SA Gross Margin
37.9%
Top quartile: 53%
n=259 companies
Billing Speed
1 day
Raw median (incl. progress billers); ~7 days for post-completion invoicers
n=733 companies
Billable Hour Ratio
97.1%
Top quartile: 99.6%
n=963 companies
Quote Conversion
73.9%
Top quartile: 83.2%
n=794 companies
Illinois Bill Rate
$128/hr
Top quartile: $148/hr
112+ Illinois contractors estimated in market
Top Trades in Illinois
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