Trade Schools in Chicago, IL

28 schools · 68 programs · Avg earnings $32,441/yr

Chicago's diverse economy, with strong sectors in healthcare, transportation, and logistics, shapes its vocational education landscape. The city's extensive hospital systems and medical facilities, including major employers like Advocate Health Care and Northwestern Medicine, create consistent demand for skilled healthcare professionals. Programs in Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants directly address this need, preparing graduates for immediate entry into a robust job market.

Beyond healthcare, Chicago's role as a major transportation hub and a center for corporate operations supports a range of vocational pathways. The demand for efficient business practices and administrative support remains high across industries. Business Administration, Management and Operations programs align with these ongoing needs, offering essential skills for entry-level and supervisory roles within the city’s numerous businesses and organizations.

Schools
28
Programs
68
Avg Grad Earnings
$32,441/yr
Avg Score
52/100

Chicago Trade Schools Map

28 trade schools in Chicago, IL.

City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Midwestern Career College Illinois Media School Generations College City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College HVAC Technical Institute Illinois Media School-Chicago Campus MDT College of Health Sciences St. Augustine College DePaul University Larry's Barber College Larry's Barber College Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NE Paul Mitchell the School-Chicago Aveda Institute-Chicago Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NW University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy Pacific College of Health and Science Roosevelt University National Louis University Loyola University Chicago Cannella School of Hair Design-Chicago

All Trade Schools in Chicago

28 trade schools ranked by number of programs offered.

Top Programs in Chicago

Highest-earning trade programs by first-year graduate earnings in Chicago.

Program School Earnings Score
Electrical Installation City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College $142,516/yr 87
Plumbing City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College $82,055/yr 82
Nursing City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College $70,086/yr 84
Allied Health Professions City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College $63,963/yr 71
Practical Nursing MDT College of Health Sciences $54,894/yr 68
Legal Support Services Loyola University Chicago $48,819/yr 45
Geography & Cartography DePaul University $47,464/yr 50
Finance City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College $45,261/yr 81
Allied Health Professions Midwestern Career College $44,964/yr 57
Business Administration Roosevelt University $44,510/yr 67

Apprenticeships in Chicago

Another path · Earn while you learn
147 registered apprenticeship sponsors in Chicago
Apprentices earn wages during training and graduate debt-free. See all Illinois apprenticeships → for wages by trade.

Programs by Category

Skilled Trades (6 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Electrical Installation City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College 87 $142,516/yr
Plumbing City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College 82 $82,055/yr
Truck Driving & CDL City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College 70 $24,356/yr
Electrical Installation HVAC Technical Institute 56 $32,208/yr
HVAC Technology HVAC Technical Institute 52 $41,644/yr
Carpentry City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College 47 $17,697/yr

Healthcare (16 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Nursing City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College 84 $70,086/yr
Practical Nursing City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College 73 $36,493/yr
Allied Health Professions City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College 71 $63,963/yr
Medical Assisting City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College 69 $35,140/yr
Practical Nursing MDT College of Health Sciences 68 $54,894/yr
Medical Assisting City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College 66 $40,148/yr
Medical Assisting City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College 64 $37,908/yr
Allied Health Professions Midwestern Career College 57 $44,964/yr
Medical Assisting Midwestern Career College 57 $31,998/yr
Allied Health Professions Midwestern Career College 56 $42,091/yr
Allied Health Professions City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College 56 $28,481/yr
Clinical Laboratory Science City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College 52 $26,947/yr
Clinical Laboratory Science Midwestern Career College 49 $33,466/yr
Massage Therapy Pacific College of Health and Science 41 $21,955/yr
Massage Therapy Soma Institute-The National School of Clinical Massage Therapy 40 $23,044/yr
Massage Therapy Pacific College of Health and Science 32 $17,304/yr

Engineering & Technology (2 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Computer Networking City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College 61 $34,691/yr
Information Sciences St. Augustine College 54 $30,889/yr

Criminal Justice & Public Safety (1 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Criminal Justice Generations College 53 $28,031/yr

Personal Services (10 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Culinary Arts National Louis University 57 $24,786/yr
Culinary Arts City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College 55 $19,447/yr
Cosmetology University of Aesthetics & Cosmetology 46 $24,468/yr
Cosmetology Aveda Institute-Chicago 45 $22,351/yr
Cosmetology Paul Mitchell the School-Chicago 43 $18,073/yr
Cosmetology Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NW 42 $14,848/yr
Cosmetology Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NE 41 $13,970/yr
Cosmetology Larry's Barber College 41 $12,461/yr
Cosmetology Larry's Barber College 41 $12,461/yr
Cosmetology Cannella School of Hair Design-Chicago 41 $10,607/yr

Business & Office (3 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Finance City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College 81 $45,261/yr
Business Administration Roosevelt University 67 $44,510/yr
Business Administration Generations College 49 $17,776/yr

Arts & Design (1 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Film & Photography Illinois Media School 33 $12,032/yr

Family & Consumer Sciences (3 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Human Development & Family Studies City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College 67 $37,381/yr
Human Development & Family Studies City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College 64 $34,294/yr
Human Development & Family Studies City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College 60 $30,292/yr

Other Programs (26 programs)

Program School Score Earnings
Liberal Arts & Humanities City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College 59 $36,908/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College 51 $31,322/yr
Geography & Cartography DePaul University 50 $47,464/yr
Biological & Physical Sciences City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College 50 $33,115/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College 48 $29,168/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College 48 $27,284/yr
Biological & Physical Sciences City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College 47 $30,203/yr
Legal Support Services Generations College 46 $43,061/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities City Colleges of Chicago-Richard J Daley College 46 $32,568/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College 46 $32,380/yr
Legal Support Services Loyola University Chicago 45 $48,819/yr
Biological & Physical Sciences City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College 44 $27,451/yr
Public Relations & Advertising Illinois Media School 44 $21,902/yr
Public Relations & Advertising Illinois Media School-Chicago Campus 44 $21,902/yr
Biological & Physical Sciences City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College 43 $26,939/yr
Biological & Physical Sciences City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College 42 $26,130/yr
International Studies DePaul University 41 $41,636/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College 41 $27,643/yr
Biological & Physical Sciences City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College 40 $24,111/yr
Broadcasting & Digital Media Illinois Media School 40 $18,740/yr
Broadcasting & Digital Media Illinois Media School-Chicago Campus 40 $18,740/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College 39 $26,232/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College 38 $19,982/yr
Liberal Arts & Humanities St. Augustine College 37 $28,804/yr
Biological & Physical Sciences City Colleges of Chicago-Kennedy-King College 37 $21,207/yr
English MDT College of Health Sciences 32 $24,304/yr

Nearby Cities with Trade Schools

More Trade Schools in Illinois

Frequently Asked Questions

How many trade schools are in Chicago?
There are 28 accredited trade and vocational schools in Chicago, IL, offering a total of 68 certificate and associate degree programs.
What are the best trade programs in Chicago?
The highest-earning programs in Chicago include Electrical Installation, Plumbing, Nursing, with graduates earning $142,516 or more in their first year after graduation.
Are trade schools in Chicago worth it?
Trade school programs in Chicago average $32,441 in first-year graduate earnings, with many programs offering positive ROI within the first year. Most trade careers offer strong job security due to hands-on work requirements.

About This Data

This page analyzes 68 trade and vocational programs at 28 schools in Chicago, IL using earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024–2034).

School locations shown on the map are based on official institutional addresses. Graduate earnings represent median first-year earnings for certificate and associate degree completers.

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034. Last updated 2026.