How much does a registered nurse make in Chicago?
$100,500a year
Median yearly pay for registered nurses in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $48.31 an hour or $8,374 a month.
- Hourly
- $48.31
- Vs. national median
- +3%
- Rank among cities
- 79 of 380
- Jobs in the area
- 100,240
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $77,410Median: $100,500Highest 10%: $119,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $77,410 | $37.22 | |
| 25th | $82,640 | $39.73 | |
| Median | $100,500 | $48.31 | |
| 75th | $108,400 | $52.13 | |
| 90th | $119,300 | $57.34 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for registered nurses.
| Champaign, IL | $90,230 |
| Decatur, IL | $87,170 |
| Kankakee, IL | $86,220 |
| Springfield, IL | $84,220 |
| St. Louis, MO | $83,180 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $82,640 |
| Peoria, IL | $81,010 |
| Rockford, IL | $80,930 |
| Bloomington, IL | $79,970 |
| Paducah, KY | $79,920 |
| Davenport, IA | $77,150 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Radiologist | $479,900 |
| Cardiologist | $475,600 |
| Surgeon | $462,600 |
| Orthopedic Surgeon | $446,500 |
| Dermatologist | $435,800 |
| Physician | $336,700 |
| Ophthalmologist | $284,600 |
| Dentist | $269,200 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $265,900 |
| Psychiatrist | $258,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $48.31 ($100,500 a year).
Do registered nurses make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $100,500 against $97,550 nationally, 3% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $95,990, so Chicago pays 5% more.
Where does Chicago rank for registered nurse pay?
79 of 380 metro areas with data.
How much does a registered nurse make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $77,410 or less a year; the top 10% make $119,300 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.