Benchmark $646/mo · ranked 15 of 21 · median wage $64,550
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The benchmark premium for a 40-year-old in Illinois is $646 a month for 2026, ranking 15 of 21 states published here. BLS reports a median annual wage of $64,550 for Tree Trimmers and Pruners in Illinois.
Above the cliff. At this income a single-person household receives no premium tax credit for 2026 and pays the full premium.
This occupation sits above the cliff in 1 of the 21 states reported and below it in the other 20, so the answer changes with the state.
What this figure is. It is the median annual wage BLS reports for Tree Trimmers and Pruners (SOC 37-3013) in Illinois. BLS surveys wage and salary workers and excludes the self-employed, so it is a benchmark for the occupation in this state — not the income of a self-employed tree service contractor. Premium tax credit eligibility is set by household modified adjusted gross income and household size, not by occupation, so treat this as a reference point rather than a determination of what you qualify for.
Why the cliff is back. The enhanced premium tax credits expired on 31 December 2025. For plan year 2026 the 400% FPL limit applies again, so household income above $62,600 ends premium tax credit eligibility outright.
Benchmark premium and median wage for this occupation, ranked by premium.
| # | State | Benchmark @40 | Median wage | vs cliff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $414 | $45,710 | below |
| 2 | Virginia | $455 | $49,090 | below |
| 3 | Indiana | $474 | $46,280 | below |
| 4 | Nevada | $497 | $49,680 | below |
| 5 | Ohio | $513 | $47,800 | below |
| 6 | Michigan | $523 | $48,070 | below |
| 7 | Colorado | $557 | $49,920 | below |
| 8 | South Carolina | $564 | $48,240 | below |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $604 | $44,500 | below |
| 10 | Wisconsin | $611 | $48,510 | below |
| 11 | Georgia | $615 | $41,730 | below |
| 12 | North Carolina | $638 | $44,740 | below |
| 13 | Utah | $640 | $53,900 | below |
| 14 | Alabama | $645 | $39,600 | below |
| 15 | Illinois | $646 | $64,550 | above |
| 16 | South Dakota | $655 | $49,430 | below |
| 17 | Texas | $661 | $40,030 | below |
| 18 | Kansas | $670 | $44,640 | below |
| 19 | Florida | $683 | $49,490 | below |
| 20 | Nebraska | $710 | $37,220 | below |
| 21 | Arkansas | $774 | $37,830 | below |
This page compares states. For Illinois specifically — county-by-county carriers, plan data and enrollment help — that is published on Coverage by County. To check whether a plan actually covers your hospital, see Plans By City.
← Tree Service Contractors in all states · All trades · All occupations
Put your ZIP code in and I will show you the carriers filing in your county, what the cheapest plan costs, and what you would actually pay after any help you qualify for. No cost, and you talk to me — not a call center.
Illinois runs its own marketplace rather than healthcare.gov, so 2027 plan and rate detail arrives on the state’s timetable, not in the federal files most comparison sites reprint. For a tree service contractor that makes national round-ups the least reliable place to look.
Rate filings for 2027 point to roughly a 15% median increase nationally, from −1% at one end to 54% at the other. Illinois has not finalised, so treat exact local 2027 pricing as unavailable rather than unknown.
The window opens November 1, 2026, and December 15 is the date worth writing down — it is what secures January 1 cover in Illinois and everywhere else. You will find later dates quoted; they stem from a 2025 rule that was vacated in June 2026 and is under appeal.
Illinois publishes its 2027 plan data on its own schedule rather than in the federal files, so the earlier you get a read on your options the less you are relying on national summaries that may not apply here.
Give me a ZIP and I will tell you three things:
There is no single Illinois price. Enter your ZIP and I will pull what is filed in your county, then work out what help you qualify for.