How Much Does a CNA Make in Rockford, IL in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Rockford, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Illinois.
BLS OES May 2025 · Rockford metro area
A typical CNA in Rockford, Illinois earns $19.30 per hour, or $40,140 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,345 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,440, and the top 10% of earners make over $48,810.
That pay is 13% below the Illinois figure of $45,960 and 5% below the national figure of $42,260. Rockford ranks 5th of 9 metro areas in Illinois for CNA pay. About 2,120 CNAs work in the Rockford area.
CNA pay in Rockford at a glance
- Typical pay is $19.30 an hour, or $40,140 a year.
- That is 13% below the Illinois figure, ranking 5th of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,440; the top 10% make over $48,810.
- Typical pay rose +49% from 2015 to 2025, against +88% for Illinois as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Rockford?
Pay in Rockford runs from entry-level positions at around $18.00 an hour to more than $23.47 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Illinois and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Rockford
| Career stage | Rockford | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,440$18.00 an hour | $37,590$18.07 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $38,200$18.37 an hour | $39,420$18.95 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $40,140$19.30 an hour | $45,960$22.10 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,670$21.96 an hour | $48,380$23.26 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $48,810$23.47 an hour | $54,050$25.99 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Rockford area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Rockford
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Rockford area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Rockford was $26,990 a year. By 2025 it had reached $40,140, a change of +49%, compared with +88% for Illinois over the same years.
How Rockford compares with other Illinois cities
Chicago pays CNAs the most in Illinois at $46,940 a year, $6,800 more than Rockford. The lowest-paying area in the state is Kankakee at $37,900.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rockford | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $46,940 | $22.57 | +17% | 45,850 |
| 2 | Bloomington | $43,180 | $20.76 | +8% | 950 |
| 3 | Peoria | $43,040 | $20.69 | +7% | 2,740 |
| 4 | Decatur | $41,990 | $20.19 | +5% | 600 |
| 5 | Rockford | $40,140 | $19.30 | this city | 2,120 |
| 6 | Springfield | $40,070 | $19.27 | 0% | 1,120 |
| 7 | Urbana metro incl. Champaign | $39,890 | $19.18 | -1% | 1,560 |
| 8 | Rock Island metro incl. Moline | $38,740 | $18.62 | -3% | 2,220 |
| 9 | Kankakee | $37,900 | $18.22 | -6% | 860 |
Every metro area in Illinois with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $45,960
Is Rockford a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Rockford earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $40,140 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Rockford area, about 15 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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Rockford, IL?
- A typical CNA in Rockford earns $40,140 a year, or $19.30 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,440 and the top 10% earn over $48,810.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Rockford?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Rockford is $19.30. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.00, and the top 10% earn over $23.47 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Rockford?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Rockford typically offer around $18.00 an hour, or $37,440 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Rockford higher than in the rest of Illinois?
- Rockford pay is 13% below the Illinois figure of $45,960 a year, ranking 5th of 9 metro areas in the state. Chicago pays the most in Illinois at $46,940.