Key Findings
- 660 contractors analyzed across 4+ cities
- Average AI Trust Score: 17.2/100 (median: 0)
- Only 0.8% of contractors score above 70 (excellent visibility)
- 11% have structured data (JSON-LD), meaning 89% are invisible to AI assistants
- 100% have a website listed
Score Distribution
The majority of contractors in Illinois fall in the lower score ranges. This reflects a market where most businesses haven't optimized their online presence for AI discovery.
Score Distribution: Illinois
Web Presence & AI Readability
100%
Have a Website
11%
Have JSON-LD
Top Performing Cities
These cities have the highest average AI Trust Scores in Illinois, indicating contractors in these markets are more likely to be found by AI assistants.
Top Cities by Avg Score: Illinois
| City | Businesses | Avg Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 656 | 17 |
Hiring in Illinois?
By Industry Vertical
Different contractor types show distinct patterns in AI visibility. Plumbers lead with an average score of 0. General Contractors lag at 12.3.
| Vertical | Count | Avg Score | % Excellent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Electricians | 3 | 51 | 0% |
| Roofers | 46 | 7.6 | 0% |
| Landscapers | 2 | 22.5 | 0% |
| General Contractors | 8 | 12.3 | 0% |
Performance Gap
The gap between top performers and the rest tells a clear story: the top 10% of contractors in Illinois score 64.8 on average, with 46 reviews. The bottom 50% average just 0 with 34 reviews. That's a 1.3x difference in reviews alone.
Methodology
This report analyzes 660 contractor business listings in Illinois. 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.