CNC Machining Jobs in Chicago, IL

The CNC machining industry in the Chicago area is a key player in the U.S. economy, and ranks among the top machining areas in America. According to hireCNC's own job board data, CNC machinists posting jobs in Illinois show a median posted wage of $39.25/hour (based on shop-floor CNC postings on hireCNC's board — see the full pay breakdown by role and state), one of the higher state medians we track.

The Chicago area is home to several schools that offer CNC machining-related programs, ranging from certificate and diploma programs to associate's degrees. Here are the top five CNC Machining Schools (in no particular order) in the Chicago Metropolitan Area:

1. Triton College: Located on the edge of the Chicago suburbs, Triton College is one of the largest CNC Machining schools in Illinois.
2. Harper College: Located northwest of downtown Chicago, Harper College offers a comprehensive CNC machining program that covers all aspects of CNC technology from design to production. They also offer computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software training to help students develop additional skills for their job search.
3. College of Lake County: This community college located on the northern edge of Chicago has CNC machining programs at both its Grayslake and Waukegan campuses. CNC machining courses at CLC focus on CNC programming and machine operations, as well as mathematics and engineering technology.
4. Joliet Junior College: Located southwest of downtown Chicago, Joliet Junior College offers a CNC Machining program that includes CNC programming and CNC operation courses, along with CAD/CAM software training. Students also have the opportunity to earn an associate's degree or certificate in CNC Machining.
5. Elgin Community College: Located northwest of downtown Chicago, Elgin Community College offers CNC Machining programs that cover CNC programming, manufacturing processes, materials selection and design principles. Courses are designed to prepare students for entry-level CNC operator jobs or CNC programmer positions.

The Chicago area has a deep bench of precision manufacturers, and hireCNC sees regular activity from Illinois shops posting CNC roles on the board. Browse current CNC openings in the Chicago area to see who's hiring today, since the roster shifts as positions fill.

The CNC machining industry in the Chicago metropolitan area continues to face a shortage of skilled CNC machinists, with automation on the rise and fewer workers entering the trade with traditional CNC skills. That gap is an opportunity for machinists with the right training — shops in the area are actively competing for skilled operators, setup machinists and programmers.