Registered Nurses Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$69,170
- 25th Percentile — Junior$80,020
- 50th Percentile — Median$95,990
- 75th Percentile — Senior$105,960
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$118,190
Half of Registered Nurses in Illinois earn more than $95,990. The top 10% make $118,190 or more, while entry-level workers start around $69,170.
Registered Nurses in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 24th of 51 states for Registered Nurses pay, at $94,360 per year (7.0% below the U.S. average of $101,420).
- 138,910 people work as Registered Nurses in Illinois — 4.1% of all U.S. Registered Nurses jobs.
- Location quotient 1.05: Registered Nurses jobs are more concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $69,170; the top 10% earn over $118,190.
- Hourly equivalent: $45.37 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $150,280.
- Among healthcare jobs in Illinois, Surgeons All Other pays the most ($372,060).
Registered Nurses Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Registered Nurses here earn $94,360 on average, placing the state 24th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $94,360 is roughly equivalent to $89,867 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Texas ($95,380), New Mexico ($95,290), Georgia ($95,080) are the closest alternatives for Registered Nurses weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Healthcare Jobs in Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- Surgeons All Other $372,060/yr Illinois +294.3% vs this role
- Dermatologists $367,430/yr Illinois +289.4% vs this role
- Psychiatrists $269,000/yr Illinois +185.1% vs this role
- Nurse Anesthetists $251,600/yr Illinois +166.6% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $244,730/yr Illinois +159.4% vs this role
- Emergency Medicine Physicians $239,200/yr Illinois +153.5% vs this role
- Radiologists $239,200/yr Illinois +153.5% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $229,370/yr Illinois +143.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Registered Nurses salary in Illinois?
The average Registered Nurses salary in Illinois is $94,360 per year (median $95,990), which is 7.0% below the national average of $101,420.
How does Illinois rank for Registered Nurses pay?
Illinois ranks 24th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($150,280/yr).
How much do entry-level Registered Nurses make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Registered Nurses in Illinois earn about $69,170 per year and the 25th percentile is $80,020.
How much do Registered Nurses make per hour in Illinois?
About $45.37 per hour, based on the $94,360 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Registered Nurses work in Illinois?
BLS counts 138,910 Registered Nurses jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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