Job training programs in California

3,183 programs in 91 fields, with costs, results and funding that can make them free

566 schools offer these programs, and every one is approved for workforce funding. Compare the fields below, then open one to see each program with its price and how past students did.

Online programs in California · Programs of 12 weeks or less

Accredited schools in California: Trade schools · Nursing schools · Medical certification programs · Allied health programs · IT schools · Business schools · Beauty schools · First responder schools · Transportation schools · Culinary and hospitality schools · Child care and social services programs

Job training in California by line of work

Each line of work compares its fields in California. A line gets a page once two of its fields have one here.

Compare job training in California: cost, pay and results

Job training in California, by field
Training	Programs	Most cost	Earned a year, estimated	Working 6 months later	Finished
Medical assistant training	185	$2,419 to $9,812	about $36,200	73%	88%
IT training	167	$1,052 to $4,275	Not enough data	65%	82%
Accounting and bookkeeping classes	146	$1,050 to $4,828	about $40,500	59%	73%
Construction training programs	123	$1,128 to $4,475	about $39,200	71%	83%
CNA classes	122	$759 to $1,900	about $34,900	83%	93%
CDL training	104	$4,255 to $6,962	about $44,800	80%	87%
Welding classes	98	$1,204 to $6,625	about $45,300	76%	89%
Business administration programs	89	$1,104 to $3,070	Not enough data	Not enough data	88%
Medical billing and coding training	87	$1,587 to $6,680	about $35,400	65%	81%
Web and graphic design courses	83	$890 to $4,199	Not enough data	59%	84%
Pharmacy technician training	78	$1,500 to $4,324	about $39,600	65%	80%
Administrative assistant training	77	$644 to $3,599	about $36,100	76%	69%
Auto mechanic classes	75	$1,200 to $4,247	about $47,600	57%	71%
Culinary school	73	$782 to $2,760	Not enough data	76%	87%
Project management certification	72	$2,426 to $5,505	about $72,400	71%	94%
Dental assistant programs	69	$2,050 to $10,710	about $35,300	73%	86%
Coding and software development courses	69	$837 to $5,425	Not enough data	76%	94%
Medical administrative assistant training	66	$1,260 to $5,025	about $38,800	67%	75%
Early childhood education programs	65	$723 to $2,123	Not enough data	Not enough data	61%
Phlebotomy training	61	$1,550 to $2,995	about $35,900	67%	88%
Data analytics courses	55	$3,856 to $8,225	Not enough data	58%	100%
EMT classes	49	$486 to $1,833	about $35,400	69%	79%
HVAC training	45	$1,890 to $17,680	about $52,900	65%	82%
Barber school	44	$4,900 to $13,195	about $35,800	63%	80%
LPN programs	43	$2,857 to $33,400	about $54,600	86%	74%
Cybersecurity training	43	$2,544 to $9,575	Not enough data	Not enough data	88%
AutoCAD and drafting courses	40	$1,222 to $4,888	Not enough data	86%	86%
Security guard training	40	$420 to $2,450	about $32,800	74%	98%
Electrician training	39	$1,680 to $6,750	about $44,600	68%	82%
Human resources training	38	$1,599 to $3,400	about $56,600	62%	84%
CNC machinist training	37	$1,250 to $4,695	Not enough data	61%	96%
Cosmetology school	35	$3,500 to $12,800	about $37,400	65%	81%
Home health aide training	33	$246 to $612	about $33,500	87%	96%
Fire academy	32	$954 to $1,775	about $58,400	74%	96%
RN programs	31	$1,842 to $4,900	Not enough data	90%	85%
Industrial maintenance technician training	30	$732 to $2,681	Not enough data	Not enough data	87%
Supply chain and logistics training	28	$1,542 to $3,181	about $46,400	74%	98%
Criminal justice programs	28	$828 to $2,760	Not enough data	Not enough data	71%
Police academy	26	$582 to $1,254	about $70,000	100%	89%
Addiction counselor training	26	$1,800 to $6,000	about $44,300	75%	62%
Digital marketing courses	24	$874 to $2,950	Not enough data	50%	89%
Esthetician school	23	$6,160 to $9,000	about $38,200	59%	90%
Electronics technician training	23	$700 to $5,200	Not enough data	64%	85%
Flight school	22	$1,490 to $4,816	about $65,300	76%	100%
EKG technician programs	21	$961 to $1,996	Not enough data	72%	85%
Paralegal programs	21	$2,882 to $8,491	about $62,000	24%	90%
Manufacturing technician training	20	$912 to $3,998	about $37,400	83%	82%
Nail tech school	18	$3,051 to $4,711	about $33,300	50%	87%
Massage therapy school	18	$8,925 to $14,403	about $52,000	80%	78%
Hospitality management programs	17	$782 to $2,422	Not enough data	Not enough data	88%
Vet tech programs	17	$2,495 to $16,357	about $32,600	65%	69%
OSHA safety training	17	$400 to $2,578	Not enough data	Not enough data	Not enough data
Human services programs	15	$1,081 to $2,352	Not enough data	Not enough data	100%
Auto body repair classes	15	$1,076 to $2,520	Not enough data	Not enough data	87%
Health information technology programs	14	$1,575 to $2,799	about $62,700	52%	57%
Real estate school	14	$1,012 to $2,900	Not enough data	50%	87%
Interpreter and translator training	14	$2,023 to $4,026	Not enough data	55%	99%
Teacher assistant certification	13	$666 to $2,745	Not enough data	Not enough data	Not enough data
Solar and wind technician training	13	$991 to $2,605	Not enough data	65%	75%
Heavy equipment operator training	12	$920 to $11,610	Not enough data	95%	91%
Surgical tech programs	12	$8,602 to $28,975	about $60,100	82%	81%
Radiology tech programs	12	$4,908 to $16,969	about $66,500	91%	86%
PTA programs	12	$1,315 to $14,150	about $33,500	65%	70%
Aircraft mechanic school	11	$1,975 to $19,815	Not enough data	58%	76%
Mental health technician training	11	$2,160 to $3,394	about $48,400	89%	83%
Plumbing school	10	$850 to $1,288	Not enough data	Not enough data	Not enough data
Diesel mechanic training	10	$1,518 to $2,868	about $42,500	51%	90%
Sterile processing technician training	10	$3,506 to $4,744	about $35,700	60%	76%
Personal trainer certification	9	$894 to $1,538	Not enough data	Not enough data	Not enough data
Carpentry classes	8	$906 to $3,396	Not enough data	Not enough data	Not enough data
Forklift certification	7	$225 to $792	Not enough data	Not enough data	91%
Sheet metal training	7	No figures reported
Dental hygiene programs	6	$2,935 to $4,996	Not enough data	Not enough data	Not enough data
Sonography school	6	$30,447 to $52,106	Not enough data	Not enough data	Not enough data
Water treatment operator training	6	$1,001 to $1,263	Not enough data	Not enough data	Not enough data
Optician training	6	$2,495 to $15,920	Not enough data	Not enough data	Not enough data
Masonry training	6	No figures reported
Home inspector training	5	$805 to $2,760	Not reported	Not reported	Not enough data
Dialysis technician training	4	Too few figures to show
Lineman school	3	Too few figures to show
Medical lab technician programs	3	Too few figures to show
Customer service training	3	Too few figures to show
Community health worker training	2	Too few figures to show
Respiratory therapy programs	2	Too few figures to show
Patient care technician training	2	Too few figures to show
Crane operator training	2	Too few figures to show
Healthcare administration programs	2	Too few figures to show
MRI tech school	1	Too few figures to show
Cardiovascular technology programs	1	Too few figures to show
Merchant mariner training	1	Too few figures to show
Sleep technician training	1	Too few figures to show

Each figure is the middle program of that field. Yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate.Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are counted; other schools in California may offer more. How these figures are made

Is there free job training in California?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program counted on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.¹²³
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁴ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.³
Or pay yourself. Without funding, prices differ by field: most home health aide programs in California cost $246 to $612, and most sonography programs $30,447 to $52,106. Each field's page lists every program with its price.

Job training in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Riverside and other California areas

Programs with classes in each area, all fields together. An area gets a page once it has 30 programs, or one field there has 10.

Where the California job training numbers come from

Which California programs are counted?

Programs California approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).⁵ They come from the US Department of Labor's file for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025), covering programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what California offers.

What the figures for each field mean

Each figure is the middle program among those that report it: half did better, half did worse. Prices are what most programs cost if you pay yourself (the middle half). Earnings are for the second quarter after students left, times four. Where a figure is missing, the table says why: "Not reported", "Left out" or "Not enough data" (what each means).

Sources for the funding facts about job training in California

Show the 5 sourcesHide the sources

Nursing and patient care

Medical office and lab

General healthcare

Skilled trades

Transportation and logistics

Computers and IT

Business and office

Beauty and personal care

Public safety

Food and hospitality

Education and social services