How Much Does an RN Make in Rockford, IL in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs 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 RN in Rockford, Illinois earns $38.91 per hour, or $80,930 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,744 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $66,320, and the top 10% of earners make over $112,790.
That pay is 16% below the Illinois figure of $95,990 and 17% below the national figure of $97,550. Rockford ranks 7th of 9 metro areas in Illinois for RN pay. About 4,620 RNs work in the Rockford area.
RN pay in Rockford at a glance
- Typical pay is $38.91 an hour, or $80,930 a year.
- That is 16% below the Illinois figure, ranking 7th of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $66,320; the top 10% make over $112,790.
- Typical pay rose +36% from 2015 to 2025, against +43% for Illinois as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Rockford?
Pay in Rockford runs from entry-level positions at around $31.88 an hour to more than $54.23 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Illinois and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Rockford
| Career stage | Rockford | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $66,320$31.88 an hour | $69,170$33.26 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $77,600$37.31 an hour | $80,020$38.47 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $80,930$38.91 an hour | $95,990$46.15 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $99,210$47.70 an hour | $105,960$50.94 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $112,790$54.23 an hour | $118,190$56.82 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Rockford area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Rockford
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Rockford area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Rockford was $59,400 a year. By 2025 it had reached $80,930, a change of +36%, compared with +43% for Illinois over the same years.
How Rockford compares with other Illinois cities
Chicago pays RNs the most in Illinois at $100,490 a year, $19,560 more than Rockford. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rock Island at $77,150.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rockford | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $100,490 | $48.31 | +24% | 100,240 |
| 2 | Champaign metro incl. Urbana | $90,230 | $43.38 | +11% | 3,520 |
| 3 | Decatur | $87,170 | $41.91 | +8% | 790 |
| 4 | Kankakee | $86,220 | $41.45 | +7% | 1,390 |
| 5 | Springfield | $84,220 | $40.49 | +4% | 4,110 |
| 6 | Peoria | $81,010 | $38.95 | 0% | 5,460 |
| 7 | Rockford | $80,930 | $38.91 | this city | 4,620 |
| 8 | Bloomington | $79,970 | $38.45 | -1% | 1,990 |
| 9 | Moline metro incl. Rock Island | $77,150 | $37.09 | -5% | 3,520 |
Every metro area in Illinois with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $95,990
Is Rockford a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Rockford earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $80,930 a year, 17% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Rockford area, about 34 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. That makes the local economy more reliant on RNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Rockford, IL?
- A typical RN in Rockford earns $80,930 a year, or $38.91 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $66,320 and the top 10% earn over $112,790.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Rockford?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Rockford is $38.91. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $31.88, and the top 10% earn over $54.23 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Rockford?
- Entry-level RN positions in Rockford typically offer around $31.88 an hour, or $66,320 a year.
- Is RN pay in Rockford higher than in the rest of Illinois?
- Rockford pay is 16% below the Illinois figure of $95,990 a year, ranking 7th of 9 metro areas in the state. Chicago pays the most in Illinois at $100,490.