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.
Illinois vs Pennsylvania: contractor markets, side by side
Illinois has 15,797 roster records across the trades we cover; Pennsylvania has 9,064. Counts come from the IDFPR + Chicago Department of Buildings and the Philadelphia L&I + Pittsburgh Permits; market figures are U.S. Census aggregates.
| Illinois | Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|---|
| Covered roster records | 15,797 | 9,064 |
| Snapshot records per 10k residents | 12.4 | 6.5 |
| Residents | 12,757,583 | 13,983,292 |
| Households | 5,427,336 | 6,205,690 |
| ZIP-weighted income indicator | $84,033 | $78,687 |
| Housing units authorized (source year) | 18,551 (2025) | 25,709 (2025) |
| Top covered city by records | Chicago | Pittsburgh |
Illinois has the higher snapshot ratio: 12.4 source records per 10k residents against 6.5 in Pennsylvania. 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 Illinois: $84,033 against $78,687 in Pennsylvania, using the Census estimates in this dataset. This indicator does not establish renovation budgets or likely sales.
Trade by trade
| Trade | Illinois | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 2,637 | 1,795 |
| Plumbers | 1,017 | 693 |
| HVAC Contractors | — | 252 |
| General Contractors | 7,056 | 6,207 |
| Roofing Contractors | 4,607 | — |
| Fire-Protection Contractors | — | 120 |
| Masons | 992 | — |
| Excavating Contractors | — | 185 |
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?
Illinois vs Pennsylvania: common questions
Does Illinois or Pennsylvania have more contractor records?
Illinois has 15,797 covered records; Pennsylvania has 9,064. These counts reflect different source coverage, not a census of operating businesses. Sources: IDFPR + Chicago Department of Buildings and the Philadelphia L&I + Pittsburgh Permits.
Which has the higher snapshot records-to-population ratio, Illinois or Pennsylvania?
Illinois has the higher snapshot ratio: 12.4 snapshot records per 10k residents against 6.5 in Pennsylvania.
Which has the higher ZIP-weighted income indicator, Illinois or Pennsylvania?
Illinois: $84,033 against $78,687 in Pennsylvania. This is a population-weighted average of ZIP-level income medians, not either state's household median.
Where does this Illinois vs Pennsylvania comparison data come from?
Roster counts derive from IDFPR + Chicago Department of Buildings and Philadelphia L&I + Pittsburgh Permits; 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.