How Much Does an NP Make in Illinois in 2026?

A typical NP in Illinois earns about $62.83 per hour ($130,680 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $10,890 a month and $2,513 a week, both figures calculated from the annual wage. These numbers describe the midpoint of the profession in the state, not a guaranteed starting wage. Pay varies by city, setting, and experience within the state.

Illinois pay runs about 1% below the national figure of $132,300 a year, a modest gap rather than a big shortfall. That places the state 30th among the 51 states and D.C. for NP pay. Illinois employs about 9,270 nurse practitioners, compared with 323,040 nationwide. Lower pay in many states tracks lower living costs, and that pattern holds here too.

Entry-level positions in Illinois typically offer around $49.25 an hour, or about $102,440 a year, for nurse practitioners just starting out. That figure reflects the lower end of the pay range for the profession statewide. Pay tends to rise as NPs gain experience, moving toward the typical wage of $130,680 within the first few years on the job.

Experienced NPs in Illinois often earn upwards of $68.27 an hour, close to $142,000 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $77.63 an hour, or $161,470 a year. That leaves a $59,030 spread between entry-level and top pay in the state. Setting, years of experience, and city all play into where an individual NP lands within that range.

Illinois NP pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, rising from $93,270 in 2015 to $130,680 in 2025. That is a gain of $37,410, or 40%, over ten years. The increase has been consistent year over year rather than a single sharp jump, according to the wage data.

Nationally, NP pay rose 35% over the same period, so Illinois pay grew somewhat faster than the country as a whole. The gap between the two is modest, a few points over ten years. For someone starting a career as an NP in Illinois now, that decade of steady gains suggests pay has moved in a favorable direction. Future increases are not guaranteed, but the recent trend has been upward.

Pay runs highest in the Bloomington metro area, where NPs typically earn $139,190 a year, about 7% above the statewide figure. Champaign and Urbana follow closely, with a typical wage of $137,100 a year. Both areas outpace Chicago, where NPs earn a typical $131,740 a year despite the city's much larger workforce.

At the other end, Decatur pays the least among Illinois cities tracked, with NPs typically earning $110,820 a year. That leaves a $28,370 spread between the highest- and lowest-paying cities in the state. Chicago has the largest NP workforce by far, with 6,530 employed there. These figures cover each city's full metro area, and higher pay in places like Bloomington and Chicago often comes with a higher cost of living.

Among neighboring states, Wisconsin pays NPs slightly more than Illinois, at $131,980 a year, about 1% higher. Kentucky pays noticeably less, at $122,870 a year, roughly 6% below the Illinois figure. Iowa, Missouri, and Indiana all land close to the Illinois wage, within a percentage point either way. Nurse practitioner licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which can open up job options across state lines.

Nurse practitioners in Illinois typically earn $130,680 a year, a figure that has climbed 40% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience level, from entry-level wages near $102,440 to over $161,470 for the top 10% of earners. Readers considering a move to Illinois or a shift into the profession can check the state licensing and registry page for requirements, and the city pages for local pay figures.