Illinois vs Virginia: contractor markets, side by side
Illinois has 15,797 active licensed contractors across the trades we cover; Virginia has 42,816: about 2.7× fewer licensed contractors. Counts come from the IDFPR + Chicago Department of Buildings and the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR); market figures are U.S. Census aggregates.
| Illinois | Virginia | |
|---|---|---|
| Active licensed contractors | 15,797 | 42,816 |
| Licenses per 10k residents | 12.4 | 35.9 |
| Residents | 12,757,583 | 11,942,085 |
| Households | 5,427,336 | 4,997,364 |
| Median household income | $84,033 | $102,122 |
| Building permits (2025) | 18,551 | 32,274 |
| Top city by licenses | Chicago | Virginia Beach |
Virginia is the denser market: 35.9 active licenses per 10k residents against 12.4 in Illinois. Density cuts both ways: more contractors to sell to per square mile, and more competition per job for the contractors themselves.
Household income runs higher in Virginia: $102,122 median against $84,033 in Illinois, which generally shows up in project budgets and ticket sizes.
Trade by trade
| Trade | Illinois | Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 2,601 | 3,889 |
| Plumbers | 993 | 1,424 |
| HVAC Contractors | — | 2,418 |
| General Contractors | 6,715 | 30,002 |
| Roofing Contractors | 4,509 | 1,327 |
| Landscape Contractors | — | 2,156 |
| Fire-Protection Contractors | — | 408 |
| Carpenters | — | 54 |
| Concrete Contractors | — | 1,269 |
| Masons | 979 | 1,020 |
| Drywall Contractors | — | 140 |
| Excavating Contractors | — | 3,114 |
| Painters | — | 2,121 |
| Flooring Contractors | — | 154 |
Counts are active licenses only, from each state's license board. A “—” means that board doesn't issue a statewide license for the trade, not that the trade doesn't exist there.
Working one of these markets?
Illinois vs Virginia: common questions
Does Illinois or Virginia have more licensed contractors?
Virginia has more: 42,816 active licensed contractors against 15,797 in Illinois, about 2.7× fewer licensed contractors. Counts come from the IDFPR + Chicago Department of Buildings and the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR).
Which has the denser contractor market, Illinois or Virginia?
Virginia is denser: 35.9 active licenses per 10k residents against 12.4 in Illinois.
Where does household income run higher, Illinois or Virginia?
Virginia: $102,122 median household income against $84,033 in Illinois, per U.S. Census aggregates.
Where does this Illinois vs Virginia comparison data come from?
License counts come straight from the IDFPR + Chicago Department of Buildings and the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR); population, household, income, and permit figures are U.S. Census aggregates. Only active licenses are counted.