Key Findings
- 659 contractors analyzed across 3+ cities
- Average AI Trust Score: 4.1/100 (median: 0)
- Only 0.3% of contractors score above 70 (excellent visibility)
- 4% have structured data (JSON-LD), meaning 96% are invisible to AI assistants
- 100% have a website listed
Score Distribution
The majority of contractors in Chicago fall in the lower score ranges. This reflects a market where most businesses haven't optimized their online presence for AI discovery.
Score Distribution: Chicago
Web Presence & AI Readability
100%
Have a Website
4%
Have JSON-LD
Top Performing Cities
These cities have the highest average AI Trust Scores in Chicago, indicating contractors in these markets are more likely to be found by AI assistants.
Top Cities by Avg Score: Chicago
| City | Businesses | Avg Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 656 | 3.9 |
Hiring in Chicago?
By Industry Vertical
Different contractor types show distinct patterns in AI visibility. Plumbers lead with an average score of 0. General Contractors lag at 0.
| Vertical | Count | Avg Score | % Excellent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Electricians | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Roofers | 46 | 0 | 0% |
| Landscapers | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| General Contractors | 8 | 0 | 0% |
Performance Gap
The gap between top performers and the rest tells a clear story: the top 10% of contractors in Chicago score 41 on average, with 39 reviews. The bottom 50% average just 0 with 8 reviews. That's a 4.7x difference in reviews alone.
Methodology
This report analyzes 659 contractor business listings in Chicago. Each business is scored on three dimensions: Identity (business presence verification), Legitimacy (ratings, reviews, and credentials), and Readability (structured data for AI systems). Scores are capped at 100. Data is sourced from Google Maps and business websites, refreshed regularly.