Job training programs in Chicago
396 programs in 9 trades, with costs, results and funding that can make them free
131 schools offer these programs with classes in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area, and every one is approved for workforce funding. Compare the trades below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.
All job training programs in Illinois, including online programs
Compare job training in Chicago: cost, pay and results
| Training | Programs | Most cost | Earned a year, estimated | Working 6 months later | Finished |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNA classes | 70 | Not reported | about $24,200 | 76% | Not reported |
| CDL training | 62 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Welding classes | 50 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Medical assistant training | 47 | $2,899 to $7,367 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| HVAC training | 47 | Not reported | about $39,400 | 80% | Not reported |
| Phlebotomy training | 45 | $1,668 to $3,430 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| EMT classes | 30 | $1,257 to $6,300 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
| Medical billing and coding training | 28 | Not reported | about $32,700 | 71% | Not reported |
| LPN programs | 17 | $6,730 to $7,367 | about $40,200 | 84% | 82% |
Each figure is the middle program of that trade in this area. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in Chicago may offer more. How these figures are made
Where the Chicago job training numbers come from
Which Chicago programs are counted?
Programs with classes in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area that the state they're in approved for public workforce funding (the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act). Online programs are on the state pages. They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Chicago offers.
What the figures for each trade mean
Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where too few programs report a figure, the table says "Not reported".
How reliable are the Illinois figures?
The US Department of Labor's own results site lists Illinois among the states with "known data quality concerns".4 We leave out the share who finished for Illinois: only a few programs report it, and those at a typical 11%. We leave out prices for Illinois: the state files a code in place of each price, so no price can be shown.