How Much Does an RN Make in Chicago, IL in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs 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 RN in Chicago, Illinois earns $48.31 per hour, or $100,490 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,374 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $77,410, and the top 10% of earners make over $119,260.
That pay is 5% above the Illinois figure of $95,990 and 3% above the national figure of $97,550. Chicago ranks 1st of 9 metro areas in Illinois for RN pay. About 100,240 RNs work in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area.
RN pay in Chicago at a glance
- Typical pay is $48.31 an hour, or $100,490 a year.
- That is 5% above the Illinois figure, ranking 1st of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $77,410; the top 10% make over $119,260.
- Typical pay rose +39% from 2015 to 2025, against +43% for Illinois as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Chicago?
Pay in Chicago runs from entry-level positions at around $37.22 an hour to more than $57.34 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Illinois and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Chicago
| Career stage | Chicago | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $77,410$37.22 an hour | $69,170$33.26 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $82,640$39.73 an hour | $80,020$38.47 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $100,490$48.31 an hour | $95,990$46.15 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $108,430$52.13 an hour | $105,960$50.94 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $119,260$57.34 an hour | $118,190$56.82 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Chicago
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs 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 RN pay in Chicago was $72,270 a year. By 2025 it had reached $100,490, a change of +39%, compared with +43% for Illinois over the same years.
How Chicago compares with other Illinois cities
Chicago pays RNs the most of any metro area in Illinois. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rock Island at $77,150.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chicago | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $100,490 | $48.31 | this city | 100,240 |
| 2 | Champaign metro incl. Urbana | $90,230 | $43.38 | -10% | 3,520 |
| 3 | Decatur | $87,170 | $41.91 | -13% | 790 |
| 4 | Kankakee | $86,220 | $41.45 | -14% | 1,390 |
| 5 | Springfield | $84,220 | $40.49 | -16% | 4,110 |
| 6 | Peoria | $81,010 | $38.95 | -19% | 5,460 |
| 7 | Rockford | $80,930 | $38.91 | -19% | 4,620 |
| 8 | Bloomington | $79,970 | $38.45 | -20% | 1,990 |
| 9 | Moline metro incl. Rock Island | $77,150 | $37.09 | -23% | 3,520 |
Every metro area in Illinois with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $95,990
Is Chicago a good place to work as an RN?
RN pay in Chicago sits close to the national figure: $100,490 a year, 3% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area, about 22 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. RN jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Chicago, IL?
- A typical RN in Chicago earns $100,490 a year, or $48.31 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $77,410 and the top 10% earn over $119,260.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Chicago?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Chicago is $48.31. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $37.22, and the top 10% earn over $57.34 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Chicago?
- Entry-level RN positions in Chicago typically offer around $37.22 an hour, or $77,410 a year.
- Is RN pay in Chicago higher than in the rest of Illinois?
- Chicago pay is 5% above the Illinois figure of $95,990 a year, ranking 1st of 9 metro areas in the state.