How much does an electrician cost per hour in Chicago?

Angi puts electrician labor in Chicago at $50 to $100 an hour, plus 10% to 15% for union shops (June 2026). National sources range from $50 to $130 an hour (HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor), with master electricians at $90 to $130 or more. Materials and permits come on top, and Angi notes a 10.25% combined sales tax in Chicago.

How much does it cost to upgrade an electrical panel in Chicago?

Angi reports an average of $1,410 to replace a breaker box in Chicago, with most jobs between $620 and $2,210, and $1,300 to $2,000 for a 200-amp panel installed (March 2026). HomeGuide puts a 100- to 200-amp upgrade at $1,300 to $1,600 nationally, or $1,800 to $2,500 with a new service panel.

Why is electrical work more expensive in Chicago?

Chicago's Electrical Code allows NM cable, often called Romex, only for temporary wiring and limited extensions of knob-and-tube or appliance circuits in existing homes of up to three stories. Most new wiring must use other methods, which take more material and labor. The City also requires a licensed electrical contractor for all permitted electrical work.

Is there a rebate for installing an EV charger in Chicago?

ComEd announced residential Level 2 charger rebates for 2026 of up to $2,500 per household, with the highest amounts for income-eligible customers. Installer Qmerit reported a standard rebate of up to $1,000 and that applications closed on March 31, 2026; we could not confirm this on ComEd's own site, so check with ComEd before counting on it.

Electrician Cost in Chicago (2026): Rates and Common Jobs

In 2026, an electrician in Chicago typically charges $50 to $100 an hour in labor, according to Angi’s Chicago cost data, with union shops 10% to 15% higher. National sources put the full range at $50 to $130 an hour, and most electricians charge a service call or a one-hour minimum on top. Materials, permits and sales tax are extra; Angi puts the combined rate in Chicago at 10.25%.

Angi is the only price guide we found with Chicago-specific figures. The other prices below are national averages. They help you spot an outlier quote; they will not predict yours.

Hourly rates and service calls

Source (date)	What the figure covers	Amount
Angi, Chicago (June 2026)	Electrician labor in Chicago	$50 to $100 an hour, union shops 10% to 15% more
HomeGuide (Feb 2026)	National hourly rate	$50 to $130; apprentice $40 to $70, journeyman $50 to $100, master $90 to $130+
HomeAdvisor (June 2026)	National hourly rate	$50 to $130
HomeGuide (Feb 2026)	Emergency rate, national	$150 to $200 an hour
Illinois Dept. of Labor (Mar 2026)	Prevailing wage, electrician, Cook County	$57.75 an hour plus fringe benefits

The prevailing wage is what an electrician must be paid on public works in Cook County, not a price for homeowners. It shows the labor cost a union contractor builds its rates on. The March 2026 schedule lists $57.75 an hour, with health and welfare, pension, vacation and training contributions on top. The Department of Labor has posted newer schedules since, which we could not open.

For a small job, the service call matters more than the hourly rate. HomeGuide and HomeAdvisor both put it at $100 to $200 nationally, first hour included. HomeGuide adds that some electricians instead charge a separate trip fee of $40 to $100 that does not count toward the first hour. Minimums run from one to four hours depending on the company and the source. Group small jobs into one visit.

What common jobs cost in Chicago

Job	Range	Source (date)
Install an outlet	$104 to $466, average $311	Angi, Chicago (June 2026)
Install an outdoor outlet	$1,040 to $1,450	Angi, Chicago (June 2026)
Wiring repair	$560 to $2,800	Angi, Chicago (June 2026)
Dedicated circuit	$250 to $900, average $650	HomeGuide, national (Oct 2025)
Replace a breaker box	$620 to $2,210, average $1,410	Angi, Chicago (Mar 2026)
200-amp panel, installed	$1,300 to $2,000	Angi, Chicago (Mar 2026)
Rewire a house	$2 to $4 per square foot	Angi, Chicago (Feb 2026)
EV charger, full installation	$1,078 to $2,534, average $1,806	Angi, Chicago (July 2026)

The outlet page is inconsistent: it also quotes $135 to $310 per outlet. Treat the averages as a rough guide and ask for an itemized quote.

Why Chicago wiring costs more: the Romex rule

Most U.S. homes are wired with NM cable, the plastic-sheathed cable often sold under the Romex brand. Chicago’s Electrical Code allows it only for temporary wiring and for limited extensions of knob-and-tube or appliance circuits in existing homes of up to three stories. Other uses are barred, and conductors entering a building must run in rigid or intermediate metal conduit.

The practical effect: new circuits, additions and rewiring in Chicago use wiring methods that take more material and more labor than NM cable. Keep this in mind when you compare a Chicago quote with a national price guide.

Who is allowed to do the work

The City of Chicago requires a licensed electrical contractor for all electrical work that needs a building permit, and its consumer flyer states that only registered electrical contractors are issued electrical permits. The company must employ at least one licensed supervising electrician. Our guide on how to check a contractor’s license in Chicago shows where to look the company up.

EV chargers and the ComEd rebate

Angi puts a full EV charger installation in Chicago at $1,078 to $2,534, and the step up to Level 2 adds $730 to $2,080. ComEd announced residential Level 2 rebates for 2026 of up to $2,500 per household, with the highest amounts reserved for income-eligible customers. Qmerit, an installer, reported a standard rebate of up to $1,000, and said the rebate required a smart Energy Star charger, a ComEd-approved installer and three years on an hourly pricing rate, and that applications closed on March 31, 2026. We could not confirm the closing date on ComEd’s site. Check with ComEd before counting on the rebate.

How to compare quotes

Ask each contractor for the same breakdown: hours and rate for each worker, service call or trip fee, materials with brand and model, permit fees, and the total with tax. Check that the company name on the quote matches the City license. To find licensed electrical contractors with strong customer reviews, see our ranking of the best electricians in Chicago.