The short answer
A licensed electrician in Chicago charges about $47 to $94 an hour by Angi's local data, and the average job comes to $328. A panel upgrade to 200 amps averages $1,658 there. The rule that sets Chicago apart is wiring: the city code allows plastic-sheathed cable only in narrow cases, so new circuits run in metal conduit, which adds time and material.
What electricians charge in Chicago
Our table starts with national prices and applies Chicago's construction cost factor of 1.2 from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors, about 20% above the US average.
| Job | Chicago (typical range) | US average |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate (licensed electrician) | $60–$155/hr | $50–$130/hr |
| Service call | $120–$240 | $100–$200 |
| Small repair, outlet or switch | $180–$480 | $150–$400 |
| Replace an outlet with a GFCI | $110–$240 | $90–$200 |
| New GFCI outlet | $180–$420 | $150–$350 |
| Ceiling fan installation | $180–$420 | $150–$350 |
| Light fixture or chandelier | $265–$4,100 | $220–$3,400 |
| Dedicated circuit | $300–$1,100 | $250–$900 |
| EV charger installation | $900–$3,100 | $750–$2,600 |
| Panel upgrade to 200 amps | $1,550–$3,350 | $1,300–$2,800 |
| Rewiring or grounding a house | $2,400–$12,000 | $2,000–$10,000 |
| Electrical permit | $60–$420 | $50–$350 |
Estimates for 2026, including labor and standard parts. Chicago prices use the metro's construction cost factor of 1.20 (US average = 1.00) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors. Your quote depends on access, materials and the condition of the home.
Angi's Chicago figures sit at the low end of that range for small jobs. It reports an average electrician visit of $328, with most between $162 and $504, hourly rates of $47 to $94, and a first hour that costs about $150 because it covers travel and setup (Angi). Emergency visits often cost double, about $94 to $187 an hour. For panel work, Angi's Chicago average is $1,658, with most upgrades between $1,243 and $2,072, and labor making up $1,325 to $1,500 of that (Angi). Going from 100 to 200 amps is the most common upgrade in the city.
For a figure based on your ZIP code and your job, use the calculator. National prices and how electricians bill are on our electrical cost guide.
Why wiring in Chicago is different
Plastic-sheathed NM cable, often called by the brand name Romex, has little place in Chicago homes. Under the Chicago Electrical Code, NM cable is allowed only for temporary wiring and for limited extensions to old knob-and-tube circuits in existing homes in buildings of three stories or less (Municipal Code 14E-3-334). Everywhere else, new wiring runs in a raceway such as metal conduit.
Armored cable (Type AC) and metal-clad cable (Type MC) get a narrow exception. They can be fished into existing walls, floors and ceilings for branch circuits, in runs of no more than 25 feet between boxes, and used exposed only in short lengths of up to 6 feet, for example in an unfinished attic or under the basement joists to reach a box.
What that means for your project:
- New circuits in open walls or a gut remodel go in conduit, which takes longer to bend and pull than cable
- Adding an outlet in a finished plaster wall may be possible with a short fished run of armored cable
- An electrician who mostly works outside the city should know the Chicago rules before quoting
- Old knob-and-tube wiring, still found in some pre-war houses, should be evaluated before anything is tied into it
About 39% of Chicago homes were built before 1940, and the median city home dates from 1953, according to the Census Bureau's 2024 survey. Houses that old were not wired with an EV charger, central air or an induction range in mind.
Who is allowed to do electrical work
City of Chicago
Any wiring regulated by the Chicago Electrical Code must be installed, changed or maintained by a city-licensed electrical contractor, whether or not the job needs a permit. The company must employ at least one licensed supervising electrician, and the work is done by the company's own employees under that person's supervision (City of Chicago). A supervising electrician must be at least 21, document two years of supervised experience, and pass a written exam on the Chicago Electrical Code. A license limited to low voltage covers alarm, data and similar systems, not your panel.
Suburbs
Unincorporated Cook County registers electrical contractors who hold a supervising electrician license from an Illinois city with an electrical exam, plus $1,000,000 of liability coverage. Naperville requires a permit before any electrical work and requires electricians to register with the city as electrical contractors (City of Naperville). Evanston, Oak Park, Schaumburg, Aurora and Joliet set their own registration rules, so ask the village.
Northwest Indiana
In Indiana, electricians are licensed locally. In unincorporated Lake County, contractors need a county license, specialty trades can be tested, and proof of at least $500,000 in liability insurance is required. In Gary, Hammond, Valparaiso and the other cities, ask the building department what it requires.
Which utility serves you
| Where you live | Electric utility | Downed line or outage |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago and most of northern Illinois | ComEd | 1-800-334-7661 |
| Naperville | City of Naperville electric utility | City utility |
| Lake and Porter counties, Indiana | NIPSCO | 911, then 1-800-464-7726 |
The utility matters for any job that touches the meter or the service drop: a panel upgrade with a larger service, solar, or a battery. It also decides which rebates you can get, since ComEd programs require a ComEd account.
Panel upgrades and EV chargers
Inside Chicago, an electrical permit covers new service under 400 amps, and the city's stand-alone fee for a service disconnect under 400 amps is $75. Adding up to 10 new circuits on one service costs $150, and repair or alteration of devices on existing circuits is $75 per service (fee table). A Level 2 charger usually needs a dedicated 240-volt circuit, and if the panel is full or rated at 100 amps, the upgrade comes first. Ask the electrician for a load calculation that includes everything you plan to add, such as a charger, central air and an induction range, so you pay for one upgrade.
The ComEd EV charger rebate
ComEd's EV Charger and Installation Rebate program runs from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028, or until funds run out (ComEd terms). Its rules:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Base rebate | Up to $1,000 for a Level 2 smart charger and its installation |
| Income-qualified or eligible community | Up to $2,500 |
| What it covers | Charger, labor, conduit, cable and electric panel work |
| Rate requirement | Three years on Hourly Pricing, Delivery Time-of-Day, or a supplier's time-variant rate |
| Installer | Must be an EV Service Provider in ComEd's network; self-installs do not qualify |
| How it is paid | Deducted on the installer's final invoice |
ComEd's terms say the program nearly reached its 2026 funding cap: it stopped taking base applications for the year, and income-qualified applications had to be in by March 31, 2026. If you are planning a charger now, ask the installer whether 2027 funds are open before you count on the rebate. The federal home charger credit ended for equipment placed in service after June 30, 2026.
Solar and batteries
Illinois changed net metering for new solar customers on January 1, 2025. ComEd customers who connect a system after December 31, 2024 earn credits only for the supply part of the bill, not delivery charges, taxes or fees (Illinois Shines). Power you use yourself now saves more than power you send back, so system size and a possible battery deserve a careful look. The federal residential solar and battery credit ended for spending after December 31, 2025, so a 2026 quote should not subtract it.
Chicago's Express Permit for solar asks for more than most cities. A new array needs drawings from an Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer showing the roof can carry it, an electrical drawing signed by a Chicago-licensed supervising electrician or an Illinois engineer or architect, the installer's Illinois Distributed Generation Installer certification number, and both a licensed general contractor and a licensed electrical contractor (Express Permit, solar). The city also warns that a visibly worn roof may need repair first. The permit fee for a system under 13.44 kW, with or without up to 20 kWh of storage, is $225. Our Chicago roofing guide covers the roof side.
Do you need a permit?
Inside Chicago, most real electrical work needs one, and every job needs a licensed electrical contractor.
| Electrical work in Chicago | Permit? | City fee |
|---|---|---|
| Changing a bulb, plugging in equipment | No | None |
| Doorbell, thermostat, camera or other low-voltage device | No | None |
| Low-voltage or communication wiring, residential building up to 4 stories | No | None |
| Repairing or changing devices on existing circuits | Yes | $75 per service |
| Up to 10 new circuits | Yes | $150 |
| New service or service disconnect under 400 amps | Yes | $75 |
| Standby generator, building of 3 or fewer units | Yes | $75 |
| Solar under 13.44 kW | Yes | $225 |
The no-permit list comes from the Department of Buildings (no-permit work). Condo owners need a letter from the association for Express Permits, even for work inside their unit, and owners 65 or older who meet the income and residency rules can ask for a fee waiver on buildings of one to three units. In the suburbs and Indiana, the village or city sets the fees.
How to check an electrician before you hire
- In Chicago, look up the company in the city's contractor license search and confirm it is a general electrical contractor, not low voltage only.
- Ask who the supervising electrician on the license is, and whether the crew are the company's employees.
- In the suburbs, ask for the village registration; in Naperville, the city registration.
- Ask whether the quote follows the Chicago wiring rules, meaning conduit for new work.
- Get a written contract for any job over $1,000, as Illinois law requires, with the permit listed as its own line.
- For a charger, ask whether the installer is in ComEd's EV Service Provider network.
GOLDGCP checks each electrician's license, insurance, background and references before they get a job, and you pay in milestones as each stage is approved. See how milestone payments work.
Common electrical jobs in Chicago homes
| Job | Chicago price range | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| New GFCI outlet | $180 to $420 | Short fished run in a finished wall |
| Ceiling fan installation | $180 to $420 | Box must be rated for a fan |
| Dedicated circuit | $300 to $1,100 | Conduit for new runs; $150 permit covers up to 10 circuits |
| Level 2 EV charger | $900 to $3,100 | Check panel capacity and the ComEd rebate status |
| Panel upgrade to 200 amps | $1,550 to $3,350 | ComEd or the local utility may need to change the service |
| Rewiring a house | $2,400 to $12,000 | Knob-and-tube replacement, done in raceway |
If water from a leak is anywhere near a panel or outlet, shut off the power at the main and see our Chicago plumbing guide.
Areas we cover
GOLDGCP electricians work across the Chicago metro in Illinois and Indiana:
- Chicago
- Evanston
- Oak Park
- Schaumburg
- Naperville
- Aurora
- Joliet
- Northwest Indiana, including Gary, Hammond and Valparaiso
Type your ZIP code below to see whether a vetted electrician covers your street.
How GOLDGCP works
- Tell us about the job through the form, by phone or on WhatsApp. Mention your utility and your panel size if you know it.
- We match you with 3 vetted, licensed electricians and show prices for your ZIP code before anyone visits.
- The electrician you choose pulls the permit and coordinates with the utility.
- You pay in milestones, each one after you approve that stage, and the last after the final inspection.
For a burning smell, sparking or a hot panel, call the 24/7 emergency line at the top of the page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an electrician cost in Chicago?
Angi reports $47 to $94 an hour in Chicago, with a first hour of about $150, and an average job of $328. Our cost-adjusted range for a licensed electrician is $60 to $155 an hour plus a $120 to $240 service call. Emergencies cost about double.
Can electricians use Romex in Chicago?
Only in narrow cases. The Chicago Electrical Code allows NM cable for temporary wiring and for limited extensions to knob-and-tube circuits in existing homes in buildings of three stories or less. New wiring otherwise runs in raceway, with short fished runs of armored or metal-clad cable allowed in existing walls.
How much does a panel upgrade cost in Chicago?
Angi's Chicago average is $1,658, with most between $1,243 and $2,072. Using national data at Chicago's 1.2 cost factor, a 200-amp upgrade runs $1,550 to $3,350. The city fee for a service disconnect under 400 amps is $75.
Does ComEd still give a rebate for EV chargers?
The program runs through 2028 with up to $1,000, or up to $2,500 for income-qualified customers, but ComEd stopped taking base applications for 2026 after nearly reaching its funding cap. It requires a network installer and three years on a time-based rate.
Do I need a licensed electrician in Chicago for small jobs?
Yes. The city requires a licensed electrical contractor for any work covered by the Chicago Electrical Code, even when no permit is needed. Only things like changing bulbs, plugging in equipment and low-voltage devices such as doorbells and thermostats are outside it.
Is solar still worth it in Illinois after net metering changed?
That depends on your use. Since January 1, 2025, new ComEd solar customers earn credits only for the supply part of the bill, and the federal credit ended after 2025. Using more of your own power, or adding a battery, now counts for more. Get a written production estimate.
Is Naperville on ComEd?
No. Naperville runs its own electric utility, and ComEd rebates require a ComEd account. The city also requires a permit before any electrical work and requires electricians to register with the city.
How we calculate these prices
GOLDGCP starts from national price ranges for each job, taken from published 2026 cost guides and checked against local price guides where they exist. To get a local price, we multiply the national range by the construction cost factor for the metro from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Area Cost Factors (US average = 1.00). For ZIP codes outside the 50 largest metros, the calculator uses the state's price level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities. Ranges include labor and standard materials but not unusual site conditions, so a written quote after an inspection is always the final price.
Sources
- How much does an electrician cost per hour? · HomeGuide
- How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Electrician in Chicago, IL? · Angi
- 14E-3-334 Nonmetallic-sheathed cable: Types NM, NMC, and NMS · Chicago Municipal Code (American Legal Publishing)
- Electrical Contractor License · City of Chicago Department of Buildings
- EV Charger and Installation Rebate Program Terms and Conditions (2026 to 2028) · ComEd
- Changes to Illinois Net Metering Bill Credits · Illinois Shines (Illinois Power Agency)
- Express Permit Program: Solar Panels · City of Chicago Department of Buildings
- 14A-12-1204.2 Stand-Alone Permit Fees · UpCodes (Chicago Construction Codes)
- Area Cost Factors, PAX Newsletter 3.2.1 (2024) · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Regional Price Parities by State · U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
About this guide
Written by the GOLDGCP editorial team. Prices come from national cost guides adjusted with official construction cost factors for Chicago; rules and statistics come from the agencies and reports linked in the text. We update this page when prices or codes change.