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Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers salary really buy you in Illinois?

Illinois is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$70,700
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$69,792
COL-adjusted (RPP=101.3)

Illinois Cost of Living Index

Illinois's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.3, meaning prices are 1.3% higher the national average. A Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers earning $70,700 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $69,792 in an average-cost US state.

IL: 101.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $33,810 $33,376 $-433
25th Percentile (P25) $49,310 $48,677 $-632
Median (P50) $70,700 $69,792 $-907
75th Percentile (P75) $94,320 $93,109 $-1,210
90th Percentile (P90) $100,140 $98,854 $-1,285
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $70,700 keeps most of its value at $69,792 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Illinois Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 101.3

With an RPP of 101.3, Illinois is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-1.3%

After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living, $70,700 nominal nets out to $69,793 in real purchasing power — a small 1.3% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#25 / 51

Illinois sits at #25 of 51 states for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers (After Cost of Living)

Where does Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$100,549
RPP 89.2
$99,149
RPP 104.7
$95,765
RPP 98.0
4. Alaska
$95,539
RPP 102.0
$94,524
RPP 109.4
$93,832
RPP 108.8
$93,828
RPP 107.6
8. Maine
$91,388
RPP 100.8
$91,296
RPP 106.4
$87,093
RPP 112.5

Illinois ranks #25 out of 51 states for Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers in Illinois after cost of living?

A Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers in Illinois earns a median salary of $70,700 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $69,792 — a -1.3% difference.

Is Illinois expensive to live in?

Illinois's cost of living is 1.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Illinois is 101.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers in Illinois: $70,700 x (100 / 101.3) = $69,792. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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