"How long does it take to become a cnc machinist in Illinois?"

"Most paths into the cnc machinist field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"What apprenticeships are available for cnc machinists in Illinois?"

"In Illinois, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A CNC Machinist in Illinois

Q: "How much do cnc machinists earn in Illinois?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cnc machinists in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $58,520. Employment concentration in Illinois is about 1.47 times the national average for this occupation."

Q: "What is the job outlook for cnc machinists in Illinois?"

"Illinois currently employs approximately 16,520 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois machinists earn a median annual wage of $58,520 ($28.13/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 16,520 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -0.4% below the national median of $58,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $58,520 ($28.13/hr)
25th percentile: $46,380 per year
75th percentile: $65,620 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $78,290 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,390 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 16,520
Versus national median: -0.4% below the U.S. median of $58,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.47 - this occupation is more concentrated in Illinois than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Illinois employs approximately 16,520 cnc machinists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $58,520 ¹. The state’s concentration of cnc machinist jobs is 1.47x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 29,500 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a cnc machinist in Illinois, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A CNC Machinist in Illinois

How do I become a cnc machinist in Illinois? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for cnc machinists in Illinois.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

What do cnc machinists earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Illinois is $58,520 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,390 and experienced professionals can earn $78,290 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Illinois): $58,520 per year ¹

CNC Machinist Apprenticeship Information in Illinois

Apprenticeships combine paid on-the-job training with classroom instruction and typically last 3 to 5 years. Illinois’s apprenticeship program is administered by the Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship ³.

Contact Information:

Office: BEST, Inc
Address: 815 N. Orlando Smith Ave., Oglesby, IL 61348
Phone: (815) 224-0375
Email: [email protected]

CNC Machinist Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Machinists Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), machinists wages in Illinois vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	11,270	$59,520	$60,510	$38,680	$78,990
St. Louis	5,620	$62,210	$64,590	$47,230	$89,950
Rockford	1,800	$49,700	$53,650	$36,750	$72,420
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	600	$61,710	$62,140	$41,850	$80,500
Peoria	500	$51,680	$55,130	$38,430	$77,330
Champaign-Urbana	100	$58,910	$66,060	$45,470	$106,040
Kankakee	100	$47,930	$55,360	$38,400	$76,440
Paducah	100	$60,300	$63,540	$38,250	$98,890
Cape Girardeau	100	$48,160	$52,680	$38,030	$84,900
Springfield	90	$59,340	$57,250	$38,890	$79,560
Decatur	60	$56,980	$56,320	$37,960	$64,420

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Cnc machinists in Illinois

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest cnc machinist employment within Illinois according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	11,270	$59,520
Rockford	1,800	$49,700
Peoria	500	$51,680
Champaign-Urbana	100	$58,910
Kankakee	100	$47,930

Explore cnc machinist programs in Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria.

Explore More Trades in Illinois

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cnc machinists in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 16,520 cnc machinists ¹. Nationally, cnc machinist employment is projected to grow 0.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Illinois. You can also contact the Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship for apprenticeship opportunities.

How much do cnc machinists earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cnc machinists in Illinois is $58,520, which is $2,370 above the national median of $56,150 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Illinois Department of Employment Services - Registered Apprenticeship: https://www.apprenticeship.gov/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)