How Much Does a CNA Make in Chicago, IL in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Chicago, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Illinois.
BLS OES May 2025 · Chicago · Naperville · Elgin metro area
A typical CNA in Chicago, Illinois earns $22.57 per hour, or $46,940 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,912 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,980, and the top 10% of earners make over $54,450.
That pay is 2% above the Illinois figure of $45,960 and 11% above the national figure of $42,260. Chicago ranks 1st of 9 metro areas in Illinois for CNA pay. About 45,850 CNAs work in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area.
CNA pay in Chicago at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.57 an hour, or $46,940 a year.
- That is 2% above the Illinois figure, ranking 1st of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,980; the top 10% make over $54,450.
- Typical pay rose +84% from 2015 to 2025, against +88% for Illinois as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Chicago?
Pay in Chicago runs from entry-level positions at around $18.74 an hour to more than $26.18 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Illinois and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Chicago
| Career stage | Chicago | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,980$18.74 an hour | $37,590$18.07 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $42,940$20.65 an hour | $39,420$18.95 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $46,940$22.57 an hour | $45,960$22.10 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $49,060$23.59 an hour | $48,380$23.26 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $54,450$26.18 an hour | $54,050$25.99 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Chicago
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Chicago was $25,570 a year. By 2025 it had reached $46,940, a change of +84%, compared with +88% for Illinois over the same years.
How Chicago compares with other Illinois cities
Chicago pays CNAs the most of any metro area in Illinois. The lowest-paying area in the state is Kankakee at $37,900.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chicago | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $46,940 | $22.57 | this city | 45,850 |
| 2 | Bloomington | $43,180 | $20.76 | -8% | 950 |
| 3 | Peoria | $43,040 | $20.69 | -8% | 2,740 |
| 4 | Decatur | $41,990 | $20.19 | -11% | 600 |
| 5 | Rockford | $40,140 | $19.30 | -14% | 2,120 |
| 6 | Springfield | $40,070 | $19.27 | -15% | 1,120 |
| 7 | Urbana metro incl. Champaign | $39,890 | $19.18 | -15% | 1,560 |
| 8 | Rock Island metro incl. Moline | $38,740 | $18.62 | -17% | 2,220 |
| 9 | Kankakee | $37,900 | $18.22 | -19% | 860 |
Every metro area in Illinois with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $45,960
Is Chicago a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Chicago earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $46,940 a year, 11% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area, about 10 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. CNA jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Chicago, IL?
- A typical CNA in Chicago earns $46,940 a year, or $22.57 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $38,980 and the top 10% earn over $54,450.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Chicago?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Chicago is $22.57. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.74, and the top 10% earn over $26.18 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Chicago?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Chicago typically offer around $18.74 an hour, or $38,980 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Chicago higher than in the rest of Illinois?
- Chicago pay is 2% above the Illinois figure of $45,960 a year, ranking 1st of 9 metro areas in the state.