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Illinois · BLS May 2025

Healthcare is always hiring in Illinois. You can start a healthcare career in weeks, not years.

427,540 people here already do these jobs. Answer four quick questions and see which route fits you.

1 of 4

First — where are you coming from?

Illinois workers in these roles
427,540
Projected growth, 2024 to 2034
+12.4%
Fastest entry credential
4 weeks
of 51 states on nurse pay
#21

Who Illinois employs right now

Illinois employment

427,540 people in these roles

139K RN134K Home aide69K CNA22K Clinic manager20K MA17K LPN9.3K NP7.9K Phlebotomy3.6K Surgical tech3.3K Sonographer1.7K Cardio tech
RoleJobs in IllinoisMedian
Nurse Practitioner9,270$130,680
Medical & Health Services Manager22,460$117,850
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer3,270$100,660
Registered Nurse138,910$95,990
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN)17,440$75,000
Surgical Technologist3,570$64,650
Cardiovascular Technologist & Technician1,710$61,870
Medical Assistant20,260$46,090
Phlebotomist7,910$46,010
Nursing Assistant (CNA)68,640$45,960
Home Health & Personal Care Aide134,100$38,060

How to earn over $100k in 4 to 6 years

Nursing Assistant To Nurse Practitioner

The longest ladder and the steepest one. Every rung is a real job you can stop at.

2.8×

Recent graduates and anyone with time to build

$45,960CNA4 to 12 weeks$75,000LPN12 to 18 months$95,990RN2 to 4 years$130,680NP2 to 3 years
10th–90th percentileIllinois median
  1. 1Certified Nursing Assistant$45,960
    4 to 12 weeksMost earn $37,590 – $54,050

    State-approved CNA program, then the state exam

  2. 2Licensed Practical Nurse$75,000
    12 to 18 monthsMost earn $58,880 – $89,810

    Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN

  3. 3Registered Nurse$95,990
    2 to 4 yearsMost earn $69,170 – $118,190

    ADN or BSN, often via an LPN-to-RN bridge, then the NCLEX-RN

  4. 4Nurse Practitioner$130,680
    2 to 3 yearsMost earn $102,440 – $161,470

    MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty

Start with CNA

Phlebotomist To Patient Care Technician

Cross-train from the draw lab into bedside care and emergency departments.

1.5×

Phlebotomists looking to expand into direct patient care

$46,010Phlebotomy4 to 8 weeks$47,840Clinical aide6 to 12 months$54,080PCT12 months$70,720ED tech1 to 7 years
10th–90th percentileIllinois median
  1. 1Certified Phlebotomist$46,010
    4 to 8 weeksMost earn $37,370 – $54,920

    Certificate program plus supervised draws

  2. 2Cross-Trained Clinical Aide$47,840
    6 to 12 months

    CNA-equivalent modules completed via accredited partner programs

  3. 3Patient Care Technician$54,080
    12 months

    EKG core skills complete the triad certification requirements

  4. 4Emergency Department Tech / Team Lead PCT$70,720
    1 to 7 years

    Placement into hospital trauma centers with wage escalation tracking

Start with Phlebotomy

Home Health Aide To Licensed Practical Nurse

The lowest barrier to a first healthcare job, with a clear route out of it.

2.0×

Career changers with no clinical background at all

$38,060Home aide2 to 6 weeks$45,960CNA4 to 12 weeks$75,000LPN12 to 18 months
10th–90th percentileIllinois median
  1. 1Home Health Aide$38,060
    2 to 6 weeksMost earn $34,200 – $42,500

    Short training program; requirements vary by employer

  2. 2Certified Nursing Assistant$45,960
    4 to 12 weeksMost earn $37,590 – $54,050

    State-approved CNA program, then the state exam

  3. 3Licensed Practical Nurse$75,000
    12 to 18 monthsMost earn $58,880 – $89,810

    Practical nursing diploma, then the NCLEX-PN

Start with Home Health Aide

EKG Technician To Patient Care Technician

Start in cardiac monitoring, cross-train into full bedside care.

1.6×

EKG techs who want broader clinical responsibilities

$41,600EKG tech4 to 8 weeks$47,840Clinical aide6 to 12 months$54,080PCT6 to 12 months$68,640Cardiac PCT lead1 to 6 years
10th–90th percentileIllinois median
  1. 1Certified EKG Technician$41,600
    4 to 8 weeks

    Cardiac telemetry monitoring training via online and onsite hybrid programs

  2. 2Cross-Trained Clinical Aide$47,840
    6 to 12 months

    CNA and phlebotomy modules completed via accredited partner programs

  3. 3Patient Care Technician$54,080
    6 to 12 months

    EKG core skills count toward PCT triad certification

  4. 4Cardiac / Telemetry Unit PCT Team Lead$68,640
    1 to 6 years

    Placement into cardiac step-down and telemetry units

Start with EKG tech

Patient Care Tech To Nurse Practitioner

The longest climb from the bedside. Every rung is a real credential and a bigger paycheck.

2.4×

PCTs ready to commit to the full nursing ladder

$54,080PCTup to 18 months$75,000LPN12 to 18 months$95,990RN2 to 4 years$130,680NP2 to 3 years
10th–90th percentileIllinois median
  1. 1Patient Care Technician$54,080
    up to 18 months

    CNA, phlebotomy, or EKG entry pathway with triad certification

  2. 2Licensed Practical Nurse$75,000
    12 to 18 monthsMost earn $58,880 – $89,810

    Bridge program with clinical-hours credit from PCT experience, then the NCLEX-PN

  3. 3Registered Nurse$95,990
    2 to 4 yearsMost earn $69,170 – $118,190

    ADN or BSN, then the NCLEX-RN

  4. 4Nurse Practitioner$130,680
    2 to 3 yearsMost earn $102,440 – $161,470

    MSN or DNP with a clinical specialty

Start with PCT

CNA To Patient Care Technician

Stack micro-credentials onto a CNA and step into acute care hospital roles.

1.4×

CNAs ready to move into hospital-level patient care

$45,960CNA4 to 12 weeks$45,760Phleb + EKG6 to 12 months$54,080PCT6 months$66,560Lead PCT1 to 4 years
10th–90th percentileIllinois median
  1. 1Certified Nursing Assistant$45,960
    4 to 12 weeksMost earn $37,590 – $54,050

    State-approved CNA program, then the state exam

  2. 2Phlebotomy & EKG Micro-Certs$45,760
    6 to 12 months

    Stackable phlebotomy and EKG certificate modules via hybrid programs

  3. 3Patient Care Technician$54,080
    6 months

    CNA, phlebotomy and EKG triad certification for acute care hospital roles

  4. 4Lead PCT / Unit Clinical Coordinator$66,560
    1 to 4 years

    Leadership track CEUs and employer-funded career growth experience

Start with CNA

Phlebotomist To Surgical Technologist

The fastest way in. A few weeks of training, then a procedural specialty.

1.4×

Anyone who needs to be earning again quickly

$46,010Phlebotomy4 to 8 weeks$64,650Surgical tech12 to 24 months
10th–90th percentileIllinois median
  1. 1Phlebotomist$46,010
    4 to 8 weeksMost earn $37,370 – $54,920

    Certificate program plus supervised draws

  2. 2Surgical Technologist$64,650
    12 to 24 monthsMost earn $48,560 – $91,890

    Accredited surgical technology program, then the CST exam

Start with Phlebotomy

Medical Assistant To Clinic Manager

The management route. Clinical credibility first, then the operations job.

2.6×

People coming from operations, admin, or team leadership

$46,090MA9 to 12 months$117,850Clinic manager4 to 8 years
10th–90th percentileIllinois median
  1. 1Medical Assistant$46,090
    9 to 12 monthsMost earn $36,400 – $56,590

    Accredited MA program covering clinical and front-office work

  2. 2Practice Or Clinic Manager$117,850
    4 to 8 yearsMost earn $75,920 – $227,180

    Billing, coding and compliance certifications, then supervisory experience

Start with Medical Assistant

EKG Technician To Cardiac Sonographer

The cardiac specialization track. Start reading rhythms, end reading hearts.

4.0×

People who want a technical specialty in cardiology

$41,600EKG tech4 to 8 weeks$72,800CV tech2 to 3 years$100,660Sonographer2 to 3 years$166,400Echo lead1 to 10 years
10th–90th percentileIllinois median
  1. 1Certified EKG Technician$41,600
    4 to 8 weeks

    Cardiac telemetry monitoring training via online and onsite hybrid programs

  2. 2Cardiovascular Analyst / Tech$72,800
    2 to 3 years

    Associate degree in cardiovascular technology via accredited programs

  3. 3Registered Cardiac Sonographer$100,660
    2 to 3 yearsMost earn $78,350 – $122,680

    Advanced ultrasound physics, clinical scan logging, then ARDMS registry exams

  4. 4Lead Echo Tech / Cath Lab Imaging Director$166,400
    1 to 10 years

    Executive management upskilling for high-performing tech specialists

Start with EKG tech

Phlebotomist To Diagnostic Sonographer

Start with a needle, end with an ultrasound probe. The biggest pay jump on this page.

2.2×

People who want a technical specialty rather than bedside care

$46,010Phlebotomy4 to 8 weeks$100,660Sonographer2 to 4 years
10th–90th percentileIllinois median
  1. 1Phlebotomist$46,010
    4 to 8 weeksMost earn $37,370 – $54,920

    Certificate program plus supervised draws

  2. 2Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$100,660
    2 to 4 yearsMost earn $78,350 – $122,680

    Accredited sonography program with clinical rotations, then ARDMS registry exams

Start with Phlebotomy

What the job actually is

Pick a role and walk through the whole shift, including the parts nobody puts in a brochure.

Certified Nursing Assistant, a day shift on a medical floor.

6:45 am

Handoff report

You take over from the night shift. Who slept, who did not, who is in pain, who has family coming today.

Hardest part, honestly

It is physical, and you are on your feet for most of eight hours.

What surprises people

How much of the job is noticing a change before anyone else does.

Ready when you are

CaresLink runs the training that starts this

State-approved programs in Illinois, built for people with no clinical background. Create a free account to see which program starts your path, what it costs, and when the next one begins.

  • State-approved

    Completion qualifies you to sit for certification

  • Weeks, not years

    Entry credentials start at four weeks

  • No second degree

    A fraction of what a degree programme costs

Create your free account

Free to join. No card required. Takes about a minute.

Most people here came from somewhere else

  • Laid off

    Or watching it happen

  • Just graduated

    Still searching for a start

  • Career stalled

    Ready for a real ladder

  • Switching fields

    No healthcare background

Pick a path and we will show you the first step

See which state-approved program starts your path, what it costs, and when the next one begins. Your credentials and clinical hours stay in one place, and Illinois employers can find you when you are ready.

Create your free account

Already have one? Log in

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a healthcare background to start in Illinois?

No. Every path on this page begins with an entry credential open to people with no clinical experience. The first step is typically a few weeks of training followed by a state exam.

How much do healthcare workers earn in Illinois?

It depends on the role. registered nurses — the largest group in Illinois, with 138,910 people — have a median of $95,990 a year, with most earning between $69,170 and $118,190. Every figure on this page is the published Illinois number from the May 2025 BLS survey.

Does Illinois pay well compared with other states?

For registered nurses, Illinois ranks 21 of 51 on median pay, at $95,990 against a national median of $97,550 — about 1.6% below the national figure. That gap is why we show state numbers rather than national ones.

How long does the first step really take?

It depends on the credential. A phlebotomy or nursing assistant program is usually a matter of weeks. A medical assistant program runs closer to a year. The times shown on each path are typical program lengths, not guarantees, and vary by school and by how many hours a week you can commit.

Where does this data come from?

All wages are Illinois figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 release. Growth projections are national, from the BLS Employment Projections program covering 2024 to 2034.

What does CaresLink actually do?

We run the training that gets you onto the first rung, and we keep the credentials, hours, and next steps in one place so the path from entry role to licensed clinician is something you can see rather than guess at.

Healthcare career paths by state

Pay varies enormously between states. Pick yours to see the real numbers where you live.

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$77,080$140,270Registered Nurse median · Alabama lowest, California highest

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