RN salary · May 2025 BLS
RN Salary in Illinois: $95,990 Median (May 2025)
Registered nurses in Illinois earn a median of $95,990 per year — $46.15 an hour — $1,560 below the national median of $97,550, ranking #21 of 51 states and D.C. The middle 80% of Illinois RNs earn between $69,170 and $118,190. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — the federal wage survey, not job-board self-reports.
Part of Nursing in Illinois — schools, RN and NP pay, and licensing on one page.
Illinois RN pay range (May 2025)
Dark band = middle 50% of Illinois RNs (25th–75th percentile). Light band = middle 80%. New grads typically start near the left edge.
Compare Illinois With Any State
Weighing a move, travel contracts, or a compact-state license? Put Illinois side by side with any other market.
| May 2025 federal data | Illinois | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Typical yearly pay | $95,990 | $95,970 |
| Typical hourly pay | $46.15/hr | $46.14/hr |
| Lower starting point | $69,170 | $67,120 |
| Higher pay with experience | $105,960 | $105,100 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $118,190 | $127,950 |
| RNs working | 138,910 | 271,380 |
Thinking past the bedside? Nurse practitioner salary in Illinois →
The path to this salary runs through the NCLEX
Illinois has 183 board-approved nursing programs across 112 schools — compare them by real first-time NCLEX pass rates. Then check what the degree costs against these wages with your own numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do registered nurses make in Illinois?
RNs in Illinois earn a median of $95,990 per year — $46.15 per hour — $1,560 below the national median of $97,550 (BLS May 2025). That ranks Illinois #21 of 51 states and D.C. by median RN pay.
What is a starting RN salary in Illinois?
New nurses generally start near the lower percentiles: in Illinois, the 10th percentile is $69,170 and the 25th percentile is $80,020. Most RNs move toward the $95,990 median within their first several years.
What do the highest-paid RNs in Illinois earn?
The top 10% of RNs in Illinois earn above $118,190 per year — typically nurses with specialty certifications, leadership roles, or high-differential schedules.
How many RNs work in Illinois?
138,910 registered nurses are employed in Illinois per the BLS May 2025 estimates.
RN salary in other states
Keep going
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