Average RN Salary in Illinois (2026)

Written by: Ann Real, MA, BSN, RN Content Writer

Reviewed by: Rishi Kulkarni, PhD VP, Engineering and Machine Learning, Data Science

For nurses seeking strong earning potential and abundant career opportunities, Illinois checks a lot of boxes. The registered nurse (RN) salary in Illinois ranks among the most competitive in the Midwest, while the state's healthcare sector includes everything from renowned teaching hospitals in Chicago to community clinics serving patients living in rural and suburban communities. No matter what your nursing ambitions are, the Illinois healthcare market might offer opportunities — and the compensation — to help you achieve them.

Looking for the highest RN salary in Illinois? Whether you're planning your next career move, considering a specialty change, or entering the profession for the first time, understanding salary trends can help you make an informed decision. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about RN wages in Illinois, including top-paying locations, average earnings, and career growth opportunities.

What’s the Average RN Salary in Illinois?

Registered nurses in Illinois earn an average of $99,219 per year, or $47.70 per hour. Keep in mind that your actual salary may be higher or lower depending on where you work, your level of education, and the type of facility you work in.

How these numbers are determined: Our wage estimates for the RN salary in Illinois are based on two inputs: Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data and Credenza's own job postings feed, which features current job ads for nurses in the area. Estimates are updated monthly. Learn more about our methodology.

RN Salaries in Illinois by Major Metro Area

Wondering which areas in Illinois offer the best earning opportunities for RNs? Check out the latest Credenza job listings to explore local opportunities and compare your options.

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What Do RNs Make in Illinois?

Median pay for RNs in Illinois's top-paying areas, from Credenza's salary model. Updated monthly.

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Our own salary estimates · Updated monthly · Free to access
Annual figures are annualized equivalents (40 hrs/week × 52 weeks) of median hourly pay.

Nurse Salary: Illinois vs. Other States

Is Illinois one of the better places in the country for RNs to build a career? The average registered nurse salary in Ohio is slightly above the national average, although the actual number on your paycheck can be higher or lower depending on experience and education.

For those just entering the nursing field, the entry-level RN salary in Illinois is typically lower than the state average as new nurses usually lack extensive experience to qualify for higher-paying roles.

While Illinois RN salaries tell part of the story, nearby states add important context. Check out how Illinois wages compare with neighboring states

Benefits of Being an Illinois RN

Home to more than 12 million residents and welcoming over 113 million visitors each year, the state depends on a strong healthcare workforce to meet growing patient needs. This translates to job opportunities in virtually every specialty and care setting, from emergency care to pediatrics, oncology, surgical services, and public health.

Here are some of the top advantages of building a nursing career in Illinois:

Top-ranking schools: Illinois stands out for its strong connection between healthcare and education. Institutions like the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing provide RNs with pathways to advanced education, research opportunities, and professional development.
Nationally-recognized hospitals: Illinois nurses have the opportunity to work in leading healthcare environments, including Rush University Medical Center, which has earned more Magnet designations than any other hospital in the state.
Financial support: Illinois' Nursing Education Scholarship (NES) provides need-based financial assistance to nursing students at multiple education levels, including diploma, bachelor’s, and graduate programs, helping more students pursue careers in healthcare.
Greater staffing transparency: Illinois requires hospitals to develop nurse staffing plans based on patient needs, unit complexity, and required nursing expertise. These requirements help improve working conditions and patient care.
Strong healthcare ecosystem: Although Illinois is not a part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), the state (especially the Chicago area) offers access to a powerful healthcare ecosystem filled with nationally recognized hospitals, cutting-edge specialty clinics, and innovation-driven clinical research institutions.

Healthcare Facilities in Illinois

No matter where your nursing interests take you, Illinois has a place for you. From large academic medical centers to community hospitals, the state’s more than 200 hospitals — including 53 Magnet-designated facilities — create opportunities for RNs to pursue nearly every specialty imaginable.

Looking for your next nursing role? Explore RN opportunities available across Illinois:

Illinois also gives nurses the flexibility to explore career paths outside of traditional hospital settings. Post-acute care RNs can find opportunities across more than 700 licensed long-term care facilities, while public health RNs can work in one of the numerous community care or public health organizations, including the State of Illinois.

Professional Support for Illinois RNs

A great nursing career is built one step at a time — and Illinois offers plenty of support along the way. Whether you’re looking to advance your education, connect with other nurses, or stay informed about the latest changes in the industry, there are resources available to help you grow.

A few helpful resources for Illinois RNs include:

Additionally, if you’re renewing your Illinois RN license, our step-by-step guide outlines the process. And if you’re just starting your nursing journey, our guide to becoming an RN in Illinois breaks down everything you need to know — from choosing a school to earning your license.

How to Increase Your RN Salary in Illinois

Looking to take your Illinois RN salary to the next level? Beyond choosing the right employer or location, nurses can use several strategies to strengthen their earning potential and open doors to better-paying roles. Consider these ideas:

Get specialty credentials. Professional certifications, like Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) and Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), can help you stand out in a competitive job market and qualify for higher-paying roles.
Build leadership skills. Moving into roles such as nurse supervisor, nurse manager, or clinical coordinator can increase earning potential. Getting specialized training in healthcare management can help prepare you for advancement.
Uplevel your education. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), or other advanced degree can help you qualify for roles with greater responsibility and, therefore, a greater paycheck.
Invest in your professional network. Connecting with other nurses, joining professional organizations, and attending nursing conferences can help you learn about new job openings, career advancement opportunities, and higher-paying roles you may not find on your own.
Find a side hustle. Taking on flexible opportunities like concierge nursing, home health, or per diem shifts can help you increase your earnings while gaining experience in different care settings.

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Why Trust Us?

How much you make as a registered nurse is important. That’s why it’s crucial to get numbers reporting the RN salary in Illinois and other regions right. We have the data and the experience to do just that. Here’s why you can rely on us.

Methodology: How We Get the Data

Data Sources. Wage estimates combine two inputs. The first is the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, which is the federal benchmark for what healthcare workers actually earn. It's the most reliable measure available, but it's published annually, lags the market, and doesn't report on thousands of smaller market-and-discipline combinations. The second is Credenza's own job postings feed, a daily export of active listings from verified healthcare employers. Postings are current and granular, but they advertise pay rather than report it, as advertised rates typically run a few percentage points off actual earnings, by an amount that varies market to market.

How Estimates Are Calculated. Rather than averaging listings, our model treats each market's wage as an unknown value that both sources give partial evidence about. It learns the gap between advertised and earned pay for each market, anchors markets with sparse data to their state's wage level, and carries estimates forward year over year at a rate learned from historical data. Every figure is published with an interval reflecting how much evidence stands behind it.

Data Cleaning. We exclude extreme outlier salary ranges, which are often artifacts of data collection. These are rare, but in thin markets a single outlier listing can shift an average by whole percentage points.

Coverage and Limitations. Our estimates cover roughly 1,600 market-and-discipline combinations the federal survey never reports on, including rural areas and smaller metros. All figures are statistical estimates rather than measured wages, and shifts in which employers are posting can affect the advertised-versus-earned correction. These figures describe market conditions and aren't a substitute for a formal compensation study.

Who We Are

All our Career Advice articles, including the Nursing Salary pages, were prepared by the humans on the Credenza content team. Our team comprises subject matter experts — registered nurse writers — and an editorial staff with a combined 65+ years of digital writing, publishing, and SEO experience, who uphold a rigorous review process to ensure that our articles are both accurate and relevant to modern nurses. Our articles provide actionable steps to help you maximize your career potential, whether you’re seeking new employment opportunities or just looking for ways to gain greater job satisfaction.

About Credenza

Credenza is the clinician career destination, the single place to manage your career, unlock every opportunity, and ensure you’re always ready for what’s next. The clinical job market is moving fast. On Credenza, your profile unlocks every relevant match, specialty, and setting all in one place. Credenza — one profile, one platform, every opportunity.

Average Registered Nurse (RN) Salary in Illinois (2026)