Chicago, Illinois MBA Programs and Business Schools

How can earning an MBA help excel your career in Chicago? Chicago is home to one of the most diverse economic climates in the country, thriving on both mature and emerging industries. Though manufacturing and transportation industries have been major players in the area's economic landscape for many generations, growing fields include information technology, green energy, and transportation and distribution, according to information from the economic development group World Business Chicago. In fact, WBC data suggests that Chicago ranks in the top five cities out of 350 metro areas in terms of output in sectors such as business and financial services, information technology, manufacturing, information technology, and more.

A number of Fortune 500 businesses are located in Chicago and its surrounding metro area. Boeing, Intergrys Energy Group, and United Continental Holdings are located within Chicago while Fortune 500 companies based just outside the Chicago city limits include McDonalds, Motorola Solutions, OfficeMax and Walgreens. With such big-name companies and related opportunities, one of the business schools in Chicago could be right for you when it comes to career planning.

Top Management Jobs in Chicago: Technology and Transportation

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov), computer and information systems managers are projected to see faster than average employment growth between 2008 and 2018. Job prospects are expected to be excellent. The bls.gov also points out that many employers prefer to hire candidates with master's degrees for top positions and this is the case for MBA concentrations in Information Systems or Technology Management. Though compensation can vary by specialty, the mean annual wages for computer and information systems managers working in the greater Chicago area were $116,710, according to May 2010 bls.gov data.

Bls.gov data also indicates than an MBA can help managers snag jobs in transportation, another leading sector in Chicago's economy. In 2010, more than 2,700 transportation, storage and distribution managers were employed in the greater Chicago area. Chicago business schools offering MBA degrees in Industrial Management could help ensure that candidates are well qualified for this growing occupation. Bls.gov numbers show the mean wages earned by these professionals in the greater Chicago area were $80,410 in 2010. When it comes down to it, MBA programs in Chicago could be key to helping you enter the IT or transportation field or any other type of challenging business-related occupation.

Additional Resources Found on MBAPrograms.org
Business Schools for Leadership Majors
Business Schools for Marketing Majors

Additional Resources for Chicago, Illinois
The Data Section of WorldBusinessChicago.com
Bureau of Labor Statistics' Data for Chicago
Census Data for Chicago