Chicago Employment

Employment and Industries in the Chicago, Illinois Area

Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. The Chicago-Naperville-Joliet metropolitan area is also the third largest metropolitan area in the United States. As with other large metropolitan areas, the Chicago metropolitan area has a tremendous concentration of wealth and commerce. The Chicago metropolitan area is home to over thirty-five Fortune 1000 company headquarters. There are approximately 100 corporate headquarters located in and around Chicago.

Chicago is one of eleven U.S. global cities, also known as world cities or world-class cities, according to the Globalization and World Cities Study Group & Network. It is ranked as an "Alpha World City". Chicago is one of only three US "Alpha" world cities (the others being Los Angeles and New York). According to Wikipedia, "A... world city... is a city that has a direct and tangible effect on global affairs through socioeconomic, cultural, and/or political means."

Chicago is very centrally located making it an ideal distribution and shipping hub. 50% of all of North American industry is within a one day truck drive of Chicago, and 75% all North American consumers are less than two days away from Chicago. For these reasons, 45% of all available industrial real estate is devoted to warehousing and distribution. According to World Business Chicago, Chicago is the number one distribution center (number one in truck, intermodal, rail, and air distribution) in the United States.

Major industries in the Chicago metropolitan area include:

  • Advanced telecommunications
  • Biotechnology
  • Business services
  • Financial services
  • Food processing
  • Manufacturing
  • Nanotechnology
  • Printing and publishing
  • Technology
  • Transportation and distribution
  • Wireless

Chicago is also home to four major financial and futures exchanges, including the Chicago Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE), and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (Merc), as well as the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (the Seventh District of the Federal Reserve).

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Chicago ranks ninth on the list of US cities who receive the most annual funding from the NIH.

Some major companies of note in and around Chicago include:

  • Abbott Laboratories
  • Accenture
  • Ace Hardware
  • AC Nielsen
  • Allstate
  • Baxter International
  • Boeing
  • Chicago Board of Trade
  • Chicago Mercantile Exchange
  • Chicago Stock Exchange
  • Citadel Investment Group
  • Crate and Barrel
  • Discover Card (a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley)
  • Encyclopaedia Britannica
  • Kraft Foods
  • McDonald's Corporation
  • Motorola
  • OfficeMax
  • Orbitz
  • Playboy Enterprises
  • Quaker Oats
  • R.R. Donnelley & Sons
  • Sara Lee
  • Sears Holdings
  • Tootsie Roll Industries
  • Underwriters Laboratories
  • United Airlines
  • US Robotics
  • Walgreens
  • Zenith Electronics Corporation

Some of the major business organizations in and around Chicago include:

Crain's Chicago Business, Chicago Business, and the Business Section of the Chicago Tribune are excellent sources of information on business in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Jobs in Chicago

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations4676440$57,160$27.48100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations611120$43,110$20.7313.75
3Transportation and Material Moving Occupations478700$40,160$19.316.7
4Sales and Related Occupations450430$45,670$21.969.5
5Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations395060$25,980$12.498.7
6Management Occupations362560$124,950$60.076.35
7Production Occupations311220$39,980$19.225.6
8Business and Financial Operations Occupations282660$79,150$38.055.35
9Educational Instruction and Library Occupations281970$58,060$27.926
10Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations264310$83,390$40.095.85
11Healthcare Support Occupations168690$31,810$15.292.85
12Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations156000$53,210$25.583.75
13Computer and Mathematical Occupations150520$91,120$43.813
14Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand145240$31,760$15.271.8
15Construction and Extraction Occupations142150$72,640$34.924.6
16Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations133880$32,570$15.663.6
17Retail Salespersons125620$28,990$13.942.7
18Office Clerks, General122440$38,910$18.711.9
19Fast Food and Counter Workers119320$23,960$11.522.45
20Protective Service Occupations117300$55,640$26.752.2
21General and Operations Managers101960$132,530$63.721.5
22Cashiers99570$24,880$11.962.2
23Personal Care and Service Occupations98960$31,960$15.364.65
24Registered Nurses97030$77,430$37.221.95
25Customer Service Representatives96660$40,120$19.291.75
26Home Health and Personal Care Aides75750$26,560$12.770
27Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners74570$31,160$14.981.5
28Waiters and Waitresses69600$23,910$11.51.65
29Stockers and Order Fillers69020$30,470$14.651.25
30Community and Social Service Occupations64970$51,330$24.681.75
31Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations64510$57,030$27.421.8
32Architecture and Engineering Occupations64120$85,860$41.281.7
33Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products57050$71,310$34.280.85
34Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers55400$51,040$24.541.2
35Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators49870$33,410$16.060.8
36Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers46970$104,610$50.30.65
37Maintenance and Repair Workers, General46870$46,360$22.290.9
38Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel46350$63,190$30.380.7
39Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive44550$41,640$20.021.4
40Accountants and Auditors43820$79,370$38.160.9
41Legal Occupations43560$128,190$61.630.8
42Security Guards43550$33,690$16.20.7
43Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks42500$45,520$21.891.05
44Cooks, Restaurant41330$29,970$14.410.9
45Packers and Packagers, Hand40550$29,340$14.110.4
46Nursing Assistants39440$30,930$14.870.95
47Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other39190$80,900$38.90.7
48Light Truck Drivers38840$46,400$22.310.6
49First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers37680$64,490$31.010.95
50Financial Managers34540$153,840$73.960.4
51Receptionists and Information Clerks34090$31,950$15.360.7
52Management Analysts32840$100,990$48.550.55
53Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations31280$75,570$36.330.8
54Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks30980$37,640$18.10.4
55Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists29960$65,710$31.590.45
56First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers28520$46,690$22.450.95
57Lawyers27790$162,490$78.120.5
58Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other27030$106,230$51.070.7
59Construction Laborers26460$64,870$31.190.9
60Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers26450$33,990$16.340.75
61Food Preparation Workers26200$27,230$13.090.5
62Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers24190$82,170$39.510.4
63First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers24060$33,700$16.20.6
64Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners23130$29,020$13.950.9
65Human Resources Specialists22520$64,700$31.110.4
66Computer Systems Analysts22410$90,690$43.60.4
67Sales Managers22400$139,040$66.850.3
68Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants22010$61,630$29.630.35
69Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers22010$42,330$20.350.35
70Machinists21890$43,180$20.760.2
71Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity21680$35,480$17.060.3
72Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators21390$39,770$19.120.4
73Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers21140$23,270$11.190.3
74Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents20480$89,410$42.990.3
75Carpenters20120$70,190$33.740.6
76Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education20100$33,170$15.950.3
77First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers19800$64,440$30.980.4
78Marketing Managers19570$135,450$65.120.2
79Bartenders19500$25,440$12.230.4
80Electricians19390$81,320$39.10.45
81Computer User Support Specialists19250$54,280$26.10.4
82Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics18940$48,010$23.080.5
83Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other18280$92,770$44.60.2
84Medical Assistants17500$37,550$18.050.45
85Substitute Teachers, Short-Term16910$37,610$18.080.4
86Computer and Information Systems Managers16790$151,710$72.940.3
87Administrative Services and Facilities Managers16040$103,170$49.60
88Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists15980$30,960$14.890.4
89Pharmacy Technicians15950$34,240$16.460.3
90Dishwashers15590$25,170$12.10.3
91Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors14360$50,150$24.110.2
92Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters14260$89,470$43.020.3
93Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders13820$34,470$16.570.2
94Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop13590$24,050$11.560.3
95Food Service Managers13310$50,390$24.230.2
96First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors13130$60,950$29.30.3
97Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses13020$57,690$27.740.5
98Firefighters13000$65,380$31.430.2
99Insurance Sales Agents12940$70,880$34.080.3
100Recreation Workers12940$28,050$13.480.3
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

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Chicago Colleges
Chicago colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Chicago Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$57,1604,676,440
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$43,110611,120
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$40,160478,700
Sales and Related Occupations$45,670450,430
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$25,980395,060
Management Occupations$124,950362,560
Production Occupations$39,980311,220
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$79,150282,660
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$58,060281,970
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$83,390264,310
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,810168,690
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$53,210156,000
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$91,120150,520
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$31,760145,240
Construction and Extraction Occupations$72,640142,150
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$32,570133,880
Retail Salespersons$28,990125,620
Office Clerks, General$38,910122,440
Fast Food and Counter Workers$23,960119,320
Protective Service Occupations$55,640117,300
General and Operations Managers$132,530101,960
Cashiers$24,88099,570
Personal Care and Service Occupations$31,96098,960
Registered Nurses$77,43097,030
Customer Service Representatives$40,12096,660
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$26,56075,750
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$31,16074,570
Waiters and Waitresses$23,91069,600
Stockers and Order Fillers$30,47069,020
Community and Social Service Occupations$51,33064,970
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$57,03064,510
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$85,86064,120
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$71,31057,050
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$51,04055,400
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$33,41049,870
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$104,61046,970
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$46,36046,870
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,19046,350
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$41,64044,550
Accountants and Auditors$79,37043,820
Legal Occupations$128,19043,560
Security Guards$33,69043,550
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$45,52042,500
Cooks, Restaurant$29,97041,330
Packers and Packagers, Hand$29,34040,550
Nursing Assistants$30,93039,440
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$80,90039,190
Light Truck Drivers$46,40038,840
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$64,49037,680
Financial Managers$153,84034,540

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Chicago, Illinois Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$57,1604,676,440
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$43,110611,120
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$40,160478,700
Sales and Related Occupations$45,670450,430
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$25,980395,060
Management Occupations$124,950362,560
Production Occupations$39,980311,220
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$79,150282,660
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$58,060281,970
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$83,390264,310
Healthcare Support Occupations$31,810168,690
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$53,210156,000
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$91,120150,520
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$31,760145,240
Construction and Extraction Occupations$72,640142,150
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$32,570133,880
Retail Salespersons$28,990125,620
Office Clerks, General$38,910122,440
Protective Service Occupations$55,640117,300
General and Operations Managers$132,530101,960
Personal Care and Service Occupations$31,96098,960
Registered Nurses$77,43097,030
Customer Service Representatives$40,12096,660
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$26,56075,750
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$31,16074,570
Stockers and Order Fillers$30,47069,020
Community and Social Service Occupations$51,33064,970
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$57,03064,510
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$85,86064,120
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$71,31057,050
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$51,04055,400
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$33,41049,870
Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$104,61046,970
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$46,36046,870
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$63,19046,350
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$41,64044,550
Accountants and Auditors$79,37043,820
Legal Occupations$128,19043,560
Security Guards$33,69043,550
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$45,52042,500
Cooks, Restaurant$29,97041,330
Packers and Packagers, Hand$29,34040,550
Nursing Assistants$30,93039,440
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$80,90039,190
Light Truck Drivers$46,40038,840
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$64,49037,680
Financial Managers$153,84034,540
Receptionists and Information Clerks$31,95034,090
Management Analysts$100,99032,840
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$75,57031,280

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