Nurse Practitioner Salary in Illinois: $130,680 Median (May 2025)
Nurse practitioners in Illinois earn a median of $130,680 per year — $62.83 an hour — $1,620 below the national NP median of $132,300, ranking #30 of 51 states and D.C. The middle 80% of Illinois NPs earn between $102,440 and $161,470. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — the federal wage survey, not job-board self-reports.
Illinois NP pay range (May 2025)
Dark band = middle 50% of Illinois NPs (25th–75th percentile). Light band = middle 80%. New NPs typically start near the left edge.
NP vs RN Pay in Illinois
The median NP in Illinois out-earns the median RN by $34,690 per year (36%). Same state, same license underneath — the difference is the graduate degree and the scope that comes with it.
Compare Illinois With Any State
Weighing a move, telehealth, or a compact-state license? Put Illinois side by side with any other NP market.
| May 2025 BLS | Illinois | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $130,680 | $131,670 |
| Median hourly wage | $62.83/hr | $63.31/hr |
| Entry-level range (10th pct) | $102,440 | $96,880 |
| Experienced (75th pct) | $142,000 | $147,660 |
| Top earners (90th pct) | $161,470 | $161,980 |
| NPs employed | 9,270 | 25,970 |
The NP path starts with an RN license
Every NP passed the NCLEX first. If you’re earlier on the ladder: compare Illinois’s board-approved nursing programs by real first-time pass rates, and see the full earning ladder from CNA to CRNA.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do nurse practitioners make in Illinois?
NPs in Illinois earn a median of $130,680 per year — $62.83 per hour — $1,620 below the national NP median of $132,300 (BLS May 2025). That ranks Illinois #30 of 51 states and D.C. by median NP pay.
How much more do NPs make than RNs in Illinois?
The median NP in Illinois earns $130,680 versus $95,990 for the median RN — a difference of $34,690 per year (36%). The step up requires a master's or doctoral NP program on top of the RN license.
What is a starting NP salary in Illinois?
New NPs generally start near the lower percentiles: in Illinois, the 10th percentile is $102,440 and the 25th percentile is $113,320. Most NPs move toward the $130,680 median within their first several years of practice.
How many nurse practitioners work in Illinois?
9,270 nurse practitioners are employed in Illinois per the BLS May 2025 estimates.