Project Controls Specialist Jobs in Illinois

Project Controls Specialist jobs in Illinois are consistently active, concentrated in construction, infrastructure, engineering, and manufacturing sectors, with openings at every level from entry-level cost analysts through senior program controls managers. Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria anchor most of the hiring, where firms like Bechtel, Aecom, and Caterpillar maintain deep project controls teams across capital programs and industrial operations. The most in-demand specialties in Illinois include earned value management, scheduling, and cost engineering tied to large public infrastructure and industrial capital projects. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles30
Top employerSargent & Lundy
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring11
Work type63% Hybrid
Top industryConstruction

Showing 5 of 30+ Project Controls Specialist jobs

Sargent & Lundy
Senior Scheduler - Project Controls & Scheduling
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Sargent & Lundy
Added 1d ago
Senior Scheduler - Project Controls & Scheduling
Sargent & Lundy
Chicago, Illinois
Data Analytics
Data Science
Healthcare Administration
$85k - $129k/yr
Hybrid
Project Management Institute Certification
1,001-5,000

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ENFRA
Project Controls Specialist
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ENFRA
Added 2d ago
Project Controls Specialist
ENFRA
Westmont, Illinois
Data Analytics
Data Science
$97k - $130k/yr
Bachelor's degree in finance
1,001-5,000

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Middough
Senior Project Controls Specialist
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Middough
Added 5d ago
Senior Project Controls Specialist
Middough
Downers Grove, Illinois
Business Analysis
Data Analytics
Data Science
$80k - $120k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in construction management
501-1,000

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Milhouse Engineering and Construction, Inc.
Project Financial Controls Specialist
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Milhouse Engineering and Construction, Inc.
Added 6d ago
Project Financial Controls Specialist
Milhouse Engineering and Construction, Inc.
Chicago, Illinois
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$68k - $81k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in finance
201-500

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Milhouse Engineering and Construction, Inc.
Project Financial Controls Manager
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Milhouse Engineering and Construction, Inc.
Added 6d ago
Project Financial Controls Manager
Milhouse Engineering and Construction, Inc.
Chicago, Illinois
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$115k - $142k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree in finance
201-500

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See All 30 Project Controls Specialist Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Project Controls Specialist Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Chicago
16 jobs
Bradley
2 jobs
Madison
2 jobs
Rosemont
2 jobs
Arlington Heights
2 jobs
Joliet
1 job
Peoria
1 job
Westmont
1 job
Libertyville
1 job

Project Controls Specialist Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Sargent & Lundy
Sargent & Lundy3 open roles
HDR
HDR2 open roles
AMPED I
AMPED I2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Construction & Real Estate
  • Consulting & Professional Services
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Technology & Software

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in project controls specialist jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, business, or a related field
  • Proficiency in Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project for scheduling and reporting
  • Experience with earned value management, cost tracking, and variance analysis
  • Familiarity with construction or capital project environments common in Illinois industries
  • Strong skills in Excel and project controls software for forecasting and reporting
  • PMI Planning and Scheduling Professional or AACE certification preferred by Illinois employers

Project Controls Specialist Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a project controls specialist in Illinois?

Most project controls specialists in Illinois enter the field with a bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, or a related discipline, then build experience through cost engineering or scheduling analyst roles. Illinois does not require a state-issued license for project controls work, but certifications such as the AACE Certified Cost Professional or the PMI Planning and Scheduling Professional carry significant weight with Illinois employers in construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors.

How much do project controls specialists make in Illinois?

Project controls specialists in Illinois earn a median of about $103,470 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $65,300 for the lowest 10% to over $163,910 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire project controls specialists in Illinois?

Employers hiring project controls specialists in Illinois right now include Sargent & Lundy, HDR, and AMPED I, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's concentration of large engineering firms, utility companies, and industrial manufacturers means demand is spread across both the Chicago metro and downstate industrial centers.

Which Illinois cities have the most project controls specialist jobs?

Chicago, Bradley, and Madison have the most project controls specialist openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates due to its concentration of engineering firms, major contractors, and infrastructure programs, while Peoria and Rockford reflect the strong industrial and manufacturing base that keeps project controls teams busy across capital improvement and production facility projects.

Are there remote project controls specialist jobs in Illinois?

Yes, but they're less common than in purely desk-based fields, since project controls work often requires on-site coordination with construction or operations teams. About 81% of project controls specialist openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with fully remote roles more likely for planning, reporting, or cost analysis functions than for site-based scheduling or field monitoring positions.

How can I get hired as a project controls specialist in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a scheduling analyst or cost analyst role at a large Illinois construction or engineering firm, where the work is structured enough to train candidates who hold a relevant degree but lack direct project controls experience. Firms like Aecom and large Chicago-area general contractors regularly bring in recent graduates for junior controls or project engineer roles. Building proficiency in Primavera P6 and pursuing an entry-level AACE credential strengthens a candidate's case considerably with Illinois hiring managers.

Where can I find and apply to project controls specialist jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to project controls specialist jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across construction, infrastructure, engineering, and manufacturing sectors. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly to each one.

See All 30 Project Controls Specialist Jobs in Illinois

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