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verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Registered Nurse Salary in Illinois

Median Annual in Illinois
$95,990/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$46.15/hr
▼ 2% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Illinois

groups Employed in IL
138,910
public U.S. Median
$97,550
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$96,030 #24 of 51

Registered Nurse pay in Illinois, explained

Registered nurses in Illinois earn a median of $95,990 per year ($46.15 per hour), which is 2% below the national median of $97,550. Entry-level workers earn around $69,170, while the most experienced registered nurses reach about $118,190. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Illinois.

Is $95,990 good pay in Illinois?

Adjusted for Illinois's cost of living (which runs 100% of the U.S. average), that $95,990 is worth about $96,030 in national buying power — ranking Illinois #24 for real pay (vs #21 on the sticker number).

See the full Registered Nurse Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Registered Nurse pay by experience in Illinois

Entry level (10th pct)
$69,170
$33.25/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$95,990
$46.15/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$118,190
$56.82/hr

Registered Nurse pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs IL
Illinois (here) $95,990 $96,030 —
Wisconsin $95,530 $101,525 +$460
Indiana $83,500 $89,468 +$12,490
Missouri $81,780 $90,049 +$14,210
Kentucky $81,040 $89,886 +$14,950
Iowa $78,630 $89,595 +$17,360

Registered Nurse in Illinois: FAQ

How much do registered nurses make in Illinois?

Registered nurses in Illinois earn a median of $95,990 per year ($46.15 per hour), compared with $97,550 nationally.

Does Illinois pay registered nurses well?

At $95,990, Illinois pays 2% below the national median for registered nurses. An estimated 138,910 work in the state.

Registered Nurse salary in other states

California · $140,270 Hawaii · $136,320 Oregon · $129,010 Washington · $124,200 Alaska · $109,480 New York · $109,440 New Jersey · $106,500 Massachusetts · $104,550 Nevada · $103,670 Connecticut · $102,740 District of Columbia · $102,540 Minnesota · $101,510

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in Illinois

Nurse Practitioner $130,680/yr median Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) $45,960/yr median Physician Assistant $131,950/yr median