Electrician pricing in Chicago
What electricians charge in Chicago (typically $75-$180/hr), the local factors that move the rate, and a sample quote you can use as a starting point.
No credit card required
Chicago electrician pricing
What electricians should charge in Chicago
Chicago electricians work in one of the strongest union markets in the US. IBEW Local 134 covers Chicago metro; most large jobs (Loop, commercial, government) are union-only. City of Chicago Electrical Contractor License required; supervised by Department of Buildings. Pre-1940 greystone and two-flat housing often has knob-and-tube or 60A panels needing replacement. ComEd controls service-line work. Energy Benchmarking Ordinance drives commercial work.
Hourly rate
$75-$180
per hour, weekday daytime
Call-out fee
$53-$113
within standard radius
After-hours
1.5-2x
evening, weekend, holiday
Job pricing
What to charge for common electrician jobs in Chicago
Real-world price ranges for the jobs local tradies quote every week. Use the table as a starting point for your own quotes and adjust for parts, access, and your overheads. All figures in USD.
Standard call-out (within radius)
What's included
Includes first 30 min diagnostic. Credited against repair on most jobs.
Single outlet install
What's included
Includes outlet, wiring run if accessible, and 45-60 min labour.
Circuit breaker replacement
What's included
Includes breaker and 30-45 min labour. CoC line item separate.
DB board upgrade
What's included
Includes new board, isolators, mounting, CoC, and 4-6 hours labour.
EV charger install (Level 2, 32A)
What's included
Includes charger, dedicated circuit, cable run, CoC, and 4-8 hours labour.
Ceiling light fitting (each)
What's included
Includes wiring connection and 30-60 min labour. Fixture not included.
Electrical safety inspection + report
What's included
Includes 2-3 hour inspection, written report with photos, and remedial recommendations.
Full house rewire
What's included
Depends on house size, fixture count, and whether walls are open. Excludes plastering and decoration.
Emergency call-out (after hours)
What's included
Typical 6pm-7am, weekends, and public holidays. State the multiplier on the quote.
Chicago quote factors
What to factor into your Chicago electrician quote
Local context that should shape what you quote as a electrician in Chicago. Humid continental. Cold snowy winters (December-March, polar-vortex events to -20°F+), hot humid summers (July-August often above 90°F), heavy snow (35-45"/year). Lake-effect snow common on lakeshore. Freeze-thaw cycles (60-80/year) drive concrete, masonry, and roofing deterioration. Polar-vortex frozen pipes and ice dams drive winter emergency demand.
IBEW Local 134 union market
IBEW Local 134 covers Chicago metro and is one of the strongest in the US. Most large commercial and Loop work is union-only. State union vs non-union shop status on every commercial quote. Union rate ~$100-$160/hour base + benefits package; non-union $85-$145/hour. Loop, hospital, government, and most commercial new-construction work typically union-only.
City of Chicago Electrical Contractor License
City of Chicago Electrical Contractor License required for any work requiring a permit. Supervised by Chicago Department of Buildings. Print license number on every quote and invoice. Unlicensed work is uninsurable and triggers DOB stop-work orders. Annual renewal and continuing-ed required.
Pre-1940 knob-and-tube + 60A panel replacement
Pre-1940 Chicago greystone, brownstone, two-flat, three-flat housing often has knob-and-tube wiring or 60A panels. Quote whole-house rewire ($12,000-$45,000+ per typical 2-3 flat) and 200A service upgrade ($3,500-$9,500) as separate scopes. Pre-quote on every pre-1940 work; insurance often requires modernization for coverage.
Lakeshore premium tier
Streeterville, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Old Town, River North, West Loop, North Shore suburbs (Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Lake Forest) command $130-$290/hour, 30-50% above standard Chicago. Smart-home integration (Lutron, Crestron, Control4) drives premium projects $5,000-$50,000+.
ComEd service-line coordination
ComEd controls electrical service-line work from transformer to meter. Quote ComEd coordination ($1,200-$6,500 per service upgrade) including permits, scheduling, meter swap. Lead times 6-14 weeks for service upgrades; state this on the contract so clients don't blame the electrician for utility delays.
Energy Benchmarking Ordinance commercial market
Chicago Energy Benchmarking Ordinance requires buildings 50,000+ sqft to annually report energy use. LED retrofits, occupancy sensors, demand-response systems drive commercial electrician work. Quote benchmark-compliance retrofit ($25,000-$250,000+ per building) as separate scope. Build relationships with property managers for recurring work.
Sample quote
A real Chicago electrician quote you can copy
EV charger install, Level 2, 32A, single garage residential. Replace the line items and rates with your own; the structure stays.
Call-out fee (within 20km radius)
32A Type 2 EV charger (Wallbox Pulsar Plus or equivalent, 3-year warranty)
Dedicated 40A circuit breaker, isolator, RCD protection
Cable run (15m, 6mm conductor) from DB board to garage
Electrical labour (5 hours: mount, wire, commission, test)
Certificate of Compliance (electrical)
FAQ
Chicago electrician pricing questions, answered
Common questions about electrician pricing in Chicago, with answers framed for tradies pricing their own work.
$95-$170/hour for licensed Chicago electricians in standard areas. $130-$290/hour for lakeshore (Streeterville, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Old Town, River North, West Loop) and North Shore suburbs (Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Lake Forest). Smart-home certified specialists $200-$400+/hour. State City of Chicago Electrical Contractor License number on every quote.
Yes, IBEW Local 134 covers Chicago metro and is one of the strongest in the US. Most large commercial and Loop work is union-only. State union vs non-union shop status on every commercial quote. Union rate ~$100-$160/hour base + benefits package; non-union $85-$145/hour.
$12,000-$45,000+ per typical 2-3 flat including new copper romex, 200A panel, breakers, surge protection, GFCI/AFCI, smoke and CO detectors, ComEd coordination, DOB permits. Add knob-and-tube remediation if found. Two-flat and three-flat housing common in Chicago; multi-unit work is volume.
Yes, required for any work requiring a permit. Supervised by Chicago Department of Buildings. Print license number on every quote and invoice. Unlicensed work is uninsurable and triggers DOB stop-work orders. Annual renewal and continuing-ed required.
$3,500-$9,500 including new 200A panel, riser, meter, breakers, surge protection, ComEd coordination, Chicago DOB permit. Pre-1940 buildings often need full rewire of associated circuits at additional $8,500-$35,000 if knob-and-tube is found. Lead time 6-14 weeks driven by ComEd.
Standard rates are $75 to $150 per hour in the US, £45-120 in the UK, A$100-200 in Australia, R350-950 in South Africa, and C$75-160 in Canada. Metro areas typically command a 20-30% premium.
Hourly rates reflect overhead (vehicle, tools, insurance, compliance), region, and seniority. A Master Electrician with a wireman's licence charges more than an apprentice. Always check the licence before booking high-value work.
For anything over $500, get 2-3 quotes. Compare scope, brand specifications, and warranty terms, not just the headline price. The cheapest quote often skips parts or uses budget brands that fail in 18 months.
Typically travel time, fuel, the first 15-30 minutes on site, and basic diagnostic work. Most electricians credit the call-out against the repair cost if the customer proceeds with the job.
1.5x to 2x is industry standard for after-hours, weekends, and public holidays. The reason: out-of-hours work pulls the electrician away from their family and disrupts their normal schedule.
Keep going
More electrician resources
The full international pricing guide, ready-to-send templates, and the main electricians page.
Full electrician pricing guide
International rates across 8 countries, plus all common jobs and a 10-question FAQ.
QuoteGenio for Electricians
Send branded quotes and invoices from your phone in 2 minutes. Built for electricians.
Electrical Quote Template
Itemised electrical quote with COC fee, parts ratings, labour, and deposit terms.
Testimonials
Trusted by tradespeople in Chicago
Real electricians and other tradies in Chicago use QuoteGenio to quote and invoice from their phone.
“Emergency call-outs at 2am are the worst time to write a quote. Being able to send something formal from my phone in a minute has saved me more than once.”
David Romano
Locksmith · Toronto
“The WhatsApp sending is a game changer. Most of my clients do not check email, so being able to send quotes instantly helps me get quicker responses.”
Kyle Adams
Electrician · Berlin
“Security quotes with six or seven cameras and zones used to be a nightmare. The line item structure handles it easily and clients understand exactly what they are getting.”
Seán McKenna
CCTV Installer · Cork
Read more
Guides on pricing and quoting
Long-form posts from the QuoteGenio blog that go deeper on quote writing, pricing strategy, and getting paid.
What a Free Quoting Tool for Tradespeople Should Do
Not every free quoting tool for tradespeople earns its keep. A plain checklist of what to look for, what to avoid, and what tradies actually use.
Convert a Quote to an Invoice in One Tap, No Retyping
The one-tap convert flow eliminates the retyping, the duplicate invoice numbers, and the mismatched line items that cost tradies hours each week.
Voice to Quote: Dictate a Job, Get Priced Line Items
Hold the mic, describe the job in your own words, release. The AI drafts a priced quote. What Voice to Quote is, when to use it, and when not to.
Free forever plan
Start quoting faster. Win more jobs.
Create professional quotes in minutes, send instantly, and stay on top of your work without the admin slowing you down.
Free to start. No credit card required.