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 5 machining areas in America. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Chicago metropolitan area (Chicago-Naperville-Elgin) employs 7,370 CNC programmer/operators, putting the area inside the top 5 nationally. "Programmers" have an hourly mean wage of $29.30, and "operators" have an hourly mean wage of $22.23.

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. The CNC Machining program offers CNC programming and CNC machine operation courses, as well as courses in mathematics and engineering technology.

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.

Top employers of CNC machinists in the Chicago area include Acme Industries, Abrasive-Form, Consolidated Machine & Tool, Regal Rexnord, and S&C Electric Company. 

The CNC machining industry in the Chicago metropolitan area is facing a number of challenges, most notably the lack of skilled CNC machinists. With automation on the rise and fewer workers with traditional CNC skills, employment opportunities in CNC manufacturing have been decreasing in recent years. However, there are still many opportunities for growth if companies invest in training and retraining programs which can help bridge this gap.