What RNs earn in Chicago
Registered nurses in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro earn a median of $100,490 a year, 3% above the national RN median of $97,550. The middle half of RNs here earn between $82,640 and $108,430, so experience, specialty and shift differentials can move you a long way inside that range. Among the 60 metro markets The RN Network tracks, Chicago ranks #21 for median RN pay.
| Role | Median | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $100,490 | $82,640 – $108,430 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,740 | $118,710 – $149,150 |
| Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | $265,880 | $163,880 – $390,360 |
| Nurse Midwife | $115,500 | $79,570 – $134,380 |
Powered by RN Workforce Insights™ · 2025 annual pay. Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile.
Cost of living and the Chicago nursing market
Pay only tells half the story. A two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent runs about $1,781 a month in Chicago, which is roughly 21% of a median RN salary before taxes. That leaves RNs here more room in the budget than in most big nursing markets.
About 100,240 RNs work in this metro, the #3 largest RN workforce of the markets we track. The RN Network directory lists 459 healthcare employers in Chicago, Naperville and Elgin, including 221 behavioral health facilities, 92 long-term care facilities, 83 dialysis centers and 39 hospitals.
Hospitals hiring nurses in Chicago
Every hospital below has its own page with pay context, nearby openings and a direct line to its careers site.
Nursing jobs in Chicago
Do not wait for the right posting to find you. Claim your free Talent Agent profile and get matched with Chicago roles that fit your specialty.
Hiring nurses in Chicago?
How long has your hardest Chicago RN role been open? Every week a position sits empty costs your team extra shifts, overtime and the good nurses who start looking elsewhere. Pick the fastest way to fill it.
Reach nurses who are looking now
Put your opening in front of nurses searching for Chicago jobs today.
Post a Job →Know this market before you hire
RN Workforce Insights™ shows time to fill, turnover and nurse supply for Chicago, so you plan hiring around real numbers.
See Chicago Workforce Intelligence →Fill the roles a posting won't
The RN Network's Recruiting Services team goes and gets them, finding and presenting qualified RNs for the roles that will not fill from a posting.
Start a Search →Run a facility in Chicago? Feature it in the directory →
Career advice for Chicago nurses
Watch the latest episode of Nursing Matters, the show that helps nurses find the right job, land the offer and grow their careers.
You Passed the NCLEX. Can You Lose This License? Nursing Matters Episode 102626
Latest article
Medical Surgical Nurse Career: The Leadership Roles Panels Count
Happy Medical-Surgical Nurses Week, which the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses celebrates November 1 through 7 and which opens today.
Read the article →Common questions about nursing in Chicago
How much do registered nurses make in Chicago?
The median RN salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro is $100,490 a year, and the middle half of RNs earn between $82,640 and $108,430.
What do nurse practitioners earn in Chicago?
Nurse practitioners in the Chicago metro earn a median of $131,740 a year.
Can a nurse afford to live in Chicago?
A two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent costs about $1,781 a month in Chicago, roughly 21% of a median RN salary before taxes.
Which hospitals hire nurses in Chicago?
Hospitals in the Chicago area include Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, Advocate Sherman Hospital, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center - VA Chicago Healthcare System, Presence Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago. See the full list in The RN Network facility directory.
How do I find a nursing job in Chicago?
Browse current Illinois openings on The RN Network job board, claim your free Talent Agent profile so employers hiring in Chicago can find you, and compare pay using the Illinois salary guide.