Best Community Colleges in Illinois

Why Attend Community College in Illinois?

When considering where to study at a community college, Illinois should be near the top of the list. The state is considered the seventh best for job types, tallying 774 positions - a positive 7.2% difference when compared to the national average. The number of positions in the state is only a few behind the leader (#5Florida) providing student-hopefuls with an abundance of options to select from. Further, the great midwest state utilizes nearly 4% (3.99%) of the nation’s labor force, making it the fifth out of 50 states. When it comes to cost, a couple of great options are: Southwestern Illinois College - that offers courses at an average net price of around $14,000 a year and Governors State University in University Park, which will total roughly $13,000 each year.

What Career Pathways Are Available in Illinois?

The labor force of Illinois offers a myriad of opportunities for students to consider upon completion of their studies. To start, the median salary in Illinois is ranked in the 20th percentile of all states - at $46,630 per year - putting it 18% ahead of the national median in Ohio - which stands at $39,680. This along with the fact that Illinois is home to nearly 6 million workers, allows it to outpace the median national state (Oregon) by a whopping 207.8%.

What Are The Most Common Jobs in Illinois?

The labor statistics for Illinois is full of surprises. For example, three of the most common occupations present in the state are customer service representatives, fast food and counter workers, and home health and personal care aides.

Customer Service Representatives

Illinois has an impressive 112,170 customer service reps, 7th most in the nation, and trailing significantly from the leader, Texas with 291,260. When it comes to compensation, the median annual salary for reps in Illinois is $37,450, making it 17th when compared to the other states. This means that the median salary in Illinois is better than 64% of the other states, including a 36% difference when compared to the maximum possible in Texas.

Fast Food and Counter Workers

Illinois has 106,400 fast food and counter workers. This puts the state in 9th place - although it falls short of the 3,095,140 nation-wide - as Illinois accounts for just 3.44% of that total. Salaries for such positions in Illinois are also somewhat impressive, with a median yearly wage of $24,450 (19th most). As you’d likely expect, the highest salaries for such positions are found in California, where 360,980 people work in this field. As such, the wage difference of the best state and Illinois is 71%.

Home Health and Personal Care Aides

Illinois is also home to 102,810 home health and personal care aides. This count is the 7th highest in the nation, once again falling behind California, who boasts a whopping 717,220, which is an 86% difference between the two states. The median annual salary for such positions in Illinois is $29,340 - making it the 16th highest in the country and putting it in the 70th percentile when compared to the nation’s median, which is best represetned by Montana ($28,760). Unfortunately, bonuses in this position are quite limited, allowing for just a small 3% bump, so choose wisely on where to over-exert.