How Much Does a CNA Make in Illinois in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Illinois, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical CNA in Illinois earns about $22.10 per hour ($45,960 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That puts Illinois about 9% above the national figure of $42,260 a year, and the state ranks 15th out of 51 for CNA pay. Illinois also employs a large workforce of nursing assistants, with 68,640 working across the state, making it one of the bigger markets in the country for this work.
How much does a CNA make in Illinois?
CNA pay by career stage in Illinois
| Career stage | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,590$18.07 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $39,420$18.95 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $45,960$22.10 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $48,380$23.26 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $54,050$25.99 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
CNA pay growth in Illinois
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in Illinois · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
Illinois CNA pay has climbed steadily over the past decade. In 2015, typical pay stood at $24,450 a year; by 2025 it reached $45,960, a rise of 88% and about $21,510 in additional yearly pay. That increase outpaces the national rise of 64% over the same stretch. For someone starting the job now, pay has been moving in the right direction for years, though nothing about the trend guarantees future raises.
CNA salary by city in Illinois
Pay runs highest in the Chicago metro area, where CNAs typically earn $46,940 a year ($22.57 an hour) across a workforce of 45,850. Bloomington and Peoria follow at $43,180 and $43,040, while Kankakee sits at the bottom of the list at $37,900. That's a spread of $9,040 between the highest- and lowest-paying metro areas in the state. Much of that gap tracks the cost of living in each area: a paycheck in Chicago has to stretch further than one in a smaller downstate city.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Illinois | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $46,940 | $22.57 | +2% | 45,850 |
| 2 | Bloomington | $43,180 | $20.76 | -6% | 950 |
| 3 | Peoria | $43,040 | $20.69 | -6% | 2,740 |
| 4 | Decatur | $41,990 | $20.19 | -9% | 600 |
| 5 | Rockford | $40,140 | $19.30 | -13% | 2,120 |
| 6 | Springfield | $40,070 | $19.27 | -13% | 1,120 |
| 7 | Champaign metro incl. Urbana | $39,890 | $19.18 | -13% | 1,560 |
| 8 | Moline metro incl. Rock Island | $38,740 | $18.62 | -16% | 2,220 |
| 9 | Kankakee | $37,900 | $18.22 | -18% | 860 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $45,960
How Illinois compares with nearby states
Among neighboring states, Wisconsin comes closest to Illinois pay at $45,130 a year, just 2% behind. Iowa, Kentucky, Indiana, and Missouri all pay less, with Missouri furthest behind at $37,680, about 18% lower than Illinois. A CNA licensed in one state can often test or transfer into a nearby one, so it's worth knowing how pay compares just across the border.
| State | Typical pay | Vs Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $45,960 | baseline |
| Wisconsin | $45,130 | -2% |
| Iowa | $39,350 | -14% |
| Kentucky | $38,370 | -17% |
| Indiana | $38,330 | -17% |
| Missouri | $37,680 | -18% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical CNA pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is Illinois a good state for CNAs?
CNAs in Illinois earn a competitive wage: typical pay is $45,960 a year, 9% above the national figure, ranking 15th of 51. For every 1,000 jobs in Illinois, about 11 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. That makes the local economy more reliant on CNAs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year. Taken together, Illinois is one of the better-paying states for CNAs.
Summary
Illinois CNAs typically earn $45,960 a year, a figure that has risen 88% over the past decade and sits above the national rate. For details on certification requirements, check the Illinois state registry page; for pay specific to your area, see the city pages for Chicago, Peoria, Rockford, and other Illinois metros.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Illinois?
- A CNA in Illinois typically makes $22.10 an hour, or about $45,960 a year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That's above the national typical pay of $42,260 a year.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Illinois?
- Illinois CNAs typically earn $22.10 an hour. Pay ranges from about $18.07 an hour for entry-level positions up to $25.99 an hour for experienced CNAs in the top earning bracket.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Illinois?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Illinois typically start around $18.07 an hour, or about $37,590 a year. As experience builds, pay moves up toward $18.95 an hour, or roughly $39,420 a year, in the first few years on the job.
- Which city in Illinois pays CNAs the most?
- Chicago pays Illinois CNAs the most, with typical pay of $46,940 a year ($22.57 an hour) across a workforce of 45,850. Bloomington and Peoria follow, both above $43,000 a year, while smaller downstate cities generally pay less.
- Is CNA pay in Illinois higher than the national rate?
- Yes. Illinois CNA pay is about 9% above the national rate, with typical pay of $45,960 a year compared with $42,260 nationally. Illinois ranks 15th among all states and Washington, D.C. for CNA pay.