Coverage varies by state, trade and authority. These are source snapshots, not a census of unique businesses or a live license check. Ratios cannot establish market saturation or contractor quality.
California vs Illinois: contractor markets, side by side
California has 223,427 roster records across the trades we cover; Illinois has 15,797. Counts come from the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and the IDFPR + Chicago Department of Buildings; market figures are U.S. Census aggregates.
| California | Illinois | |
|---|---|---|
| Covered roster records | 223,427 | 15,797 |
| Snapshot records per 10k residents | 54.8 | 12.4 |
| Residents | 40,805,409 | 12,757,583 |
| Households | 14,984,242 | 5,427,336 |
| ZIP-weighted income indicator | $97,970 | $84,033 |
| Housing units authorized (source year) | 103,856 (2025) | 18,551 (2025) |
| Top covered city by records | Los Angeles | Chicago |
California has the higher snapshot ratio: 54.8 source records per 10k residents against 12.4 in Illinois. Differences in source coverage affect this ratio; it does not measure contractors per square mile or competition for jobs.
The ZIP-weighted income indicator is higher in California: $97,970 against $84,033 in Illinois, using the Census estimates in this dataset. This indicator does not establish renovation budgets or likely sales.
Trade by trade
| Trade | California | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 29,781 | 2,637 |
| Plumbers | 18,634 | 1,017 |
| HVAC Contractors | 12,571 | — |
| General Contractors | 121,774 | 7,056 |
| Roofing Contractors | 5,940 | 4,607 |
| Solar Contractors | 1,235 | — |
| Landscape Contractors | 12,976 | — |
| Pool Contractors | 3,041 | — |
| Fire-Protection Contractors | 2,332 | — |
| Carpenters | 1,116 | — |
| Concrete Contractors | 5,851 | — |
| Masons | 2,201 | 992 |
| Drywall Contractors | 3,432 | — |
| Tile Contractors | 6,630 | — |
| Excavating Contractors | 2,587 | — |
| Painters | 16,728 | — |
| Flooring Contractors | 7,312 | — |
Counts reflect the separate covered-trade snapshot. A “—” means no count is provided here; it says nothing about whether the trade exists or requires a license. These category counts are not reconciled with the headline roster totals.
Figures use separately generated snapshots: overall roster totals, trade counts and mapped-city counts can differ in scope and collection time and should not be added together or treated as a reconciled census. The displayed source refresh date does not date every aggregate. Population and households are sums of the covered ZIP estimates. The income indicator is a population-weighted average of ZIP-level household-income medians, not the state's household median. Census context can refer to a different period from the roster. Housing-unit authorizations refer to the displayed permit year; they are not completed projects. See the ACS estimate guidance and Building Permits Survey for the underlying statistical definitions.
Working one of these markets?
California vs Illinois: common questions
Does California or Illinois have more contractor records?
California has 223,427 covered records; Illinois has 15,797. These counts reflect different source coverage, not a census of operating businesses. Sources: California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and the IDFPR + Chicago Department of Buildings.
Which has the higher snapshot records-to-population ratio, California or Illinois?
California has the higher snapshot ratio: 54.8 snapshot records per 10k residents against 12.4 in Illinois.
Which has the higher ZIP-weighted income indicator, California or Illinois?
California: $97,970 against $84,033 in Illinois. This is a population-weighted average of ZIP-level income medians, not either state's household median.
Where does this California vs Illinois comparison data come from?
Roster counts derive from California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and IDFPR + Chicago Department of Buildings; population, household, income, and permit figures are U.S. Census aggregates. Counts are snapshot records, not a census of unique companies. Source scope and dates differ between states.