CCNA Certification Cost in Illinois 2026: $85K Salary, 0.3-Month Payback
CCNA in Illinois: certified professionals earn $84,660/year at state-adjusted rates. Total cost $530. Payback: 0.3 months.
CCNA in Illinois — Key Numbers
$85K
Avg Salary w/ Cert
+$23K
Annual Salary Boost
$530
Total Cost
0.3 mo
Payback Period
Salary data: BLS OEWS state estimates 2024. State multiplier: 102% of national average.
CCNA Cost Breakdown
Exam fee
$330
Study materials
$200
Total upfront cost
$530
Salary without cert (Illinois)
$61,200/yr
Salary with CCNA (Illinois)
$84,660/yr
5-year net ROI
$117K
CCNA Job Market in Illinois
Illinois CCNA demand concentrates in enterprise IT, managed service providers, and telecommunications. The $85K median reflects the state's IT wage premium. Network engineers in Illinois with CCNA often specialize in data center networking, SD-WAN, or security — all areas of active hiring. The single-exam format ($330) and 3-year validity make CCNA one of the more manageable networking credentials in the state. Most employers in Illinois requiring CCNA offer exam reimbursement.