How Much Does an NP Make in Chicago, IL in 2026?
Typical pay for NPs 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 NP in Chicago, Illinois earns $63.34 per hour, or $131,740 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $10,978 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $106,260, and the top 10% of earners make over $164,750.
That pay is 1% above the Illinois figure of $130,680 and right at the national figure of $132,300. Chicago ranks 3rd of 9 metro areas in Illinois for NP pay. About 6,530 NPs work in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area.
NP pay in Chicago at a glance
- Typical pay is $63.34 an hour, or $131,740 a year.
- That is 1% above the Illinois figure, ranking 3rd of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $106,260; the top 10% make over $164,750.
- Typical pay rose +40% from 2015 to 2025, against +40% for Illinois as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an NP make in Chicago?
Pay in Chicago runs from entry-level positions at around $51.09 an hour to more than $79.21 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Illinois and national figures.
NP pay by career stage in Chicago
| Career stage | Chicago | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $106,260$51.09 an hour | $102,440$49.25 an hour | $101,340$48.72 an hour |
| First years | $118,710$57.07 an hour | $113,320$54.48 an hour | $117,990$56.73 an hour |
| Typical NP | $131,740$63.34 an hour | $130,680$62.83 an hour | $132,300$63.61 an hour |
| Experienced | $149,150$71.71 an hour | $142,000$68.27 an hour | $156,700$75.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $164,750$79.21 an hour | $161,470$77.63 an hour | $174,420$83.86 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area as BLS defines it
NP pay growth in Chicago
Typical (median) annual wage for NPs 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 NP pay in Chicago was $94,330 a year. By 2025 it had reached $131,740, a change of +40%, compared with +40% for Illinois over the same years.
How Chicago compares with other Illinois cities
Bloomington pays NPs the most in Illinois at $139,190 a year, $7,450 more than Chicago. The lowest-paying area in the state is Decatur at $110,820.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chicago | NPs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bloomington | $139,190 | $66.92 | +6% | 90 |
| 2 | Champaign metro incl. Urbana | $137,100 | $65.92 | +4% | 420 |
| 3 | Chicago | $131,740 | $63.34 | this city | 6,530 |
| 4 | Rock Island metro incl. Moline | $130,400 | $62.69 | -1% | 390 |
| 5 | Springfield | $130,200 | $62.59 | -1% | 350 |
| 6 | Peoria | $128,920 | $61.98 | -2% | 320 |
| 7 | Kankakee | $128,320 | $61.69 | -3% | 100 |
| 8 | Rockford | $127,720 | $61.41 | -3% | 240 |
| 9 | Decatur | $110,820 | $53.28 | -16% | 80 |
Every metro area in Illinois with NP wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $130,680
Is Chicago a good place to work as an NP?
NP pay in Chicago sits close to the national figure: $131,740 a year, right at the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area, about 1.4 are NP positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.1. That makes NPs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an NP make in Chicago, IL?
- A typical NP in Chicago earns $131,740 a year, or $63.34 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $106,260 and the top 10% earn over $164,750.
- How much does an NP make an hour in Chicago?
- Typical hourly pay for NPs in Chicago is $63.34. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $51.09, and the top 10% earn over $79.21 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an NP in Chicago?
- Entry-level NP positions in Chicago typically offer around $51.09 an hour, or $106,260 a year.
- Is NP pay in Chicago higher than in the rest of Illinois?
- Chicago pay is 1% above the Illinois figure of $130,680 a year, ranking 3rd of 9 metro areas in the state. Bloomington pays the most in Illinois at $139,190.