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.
Chicago healthcare news
- Olympia Fields nurses vote overwhelmingly to join National Nurses Organizing CommitteeNational Nurses United · Sep 24
- Future Remains Uncertain for Two Chicago-Area Safety-Net Hospitals Under New OwnershipWTTW News · Sep 25
- West Suburban Medical Center, Weiss Memorial now under Insight Health SystemsCBS News · Sep 17
- West Suburban, Weiss to be sold to Insight Health SystemsWBEZ Chicago · Sep 18
- Prime Healthcare ending obstetrics services at 3 Chicago-area hospitals on ThursdayCBS News · Oct 1
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View This Product →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.