Registered Nurses pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $119,260 or more. The middle half of registered nurses in Chicago earn between $82,640 and $108,430.
- $77K10th
- $83K25th
- $100KMedian
- $108K75th
- $119K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $97,930 | $8,161 | $47.08 |
| Median | $100,490 | $8,374 | $48.31 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,640 | $6,887 | $39.73 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $108,430 | $9,036 | $52.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Registered Nurses pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Registered nurses in Chicago earn 4% more than the Illinois average ($94,360) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($101,420). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $97,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $97,930 | $100,490 | $77,410 | $119,260 | 100,240 |
| Illinois | $94,360 | $95,990 | $69,170 | $118,190 | 138,910 |
| United States | $101,420 | $97,550 | $68,940 | $137,470 | 3,379,720 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Registered Nurses salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $97,930, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $73,017 a year, or $6,085 a month and $2,808 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $74,816 | $6,235 |
| Working in IL | $73,017 | $6,085 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for registered nurses? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $97,930 buys what about $94,532 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Registered Nurses salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$97,930
- Kankakee$91,550
- Champaign$90,970
- Springfield$89,200
- Rockford$87,550
- Decatur$87,530
- Peoria$86,570
- Bloomington$84,690
Highest-paying cities for registered nurses
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($194,950).
- San Jose, CA$194,950
- Vallejo, CA$182,820
- San Francisco, CA$176,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$170,000
- Sacramento, CA$164,200
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Registered Nurses salary in Chicago: questions
How much do registered nurses make an hour in Chicago?
$47.08 an hour on average, and $48.31 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level registered nurses salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $77,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the registered nurses take-home pay in Chicago?
About $73,017 a year ($6,085 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $97,930.
Do registered nurses earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less than the U.S. average for this job ($101,420).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1141; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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