Registered Nurses Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $96,480 +3.1% vs national
Median hourly $46.38
10th percentile $72,070
90th percentile $118,080
Employed locally 100,620
National median $93,600

Compare Registered Nurses salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Chicago, IL-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Registered Nurses
in
Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $72,070
    25th
    $81,320
    50th (median)
    $96,480
    75th
    $104,730
    90th
    $118,080

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Registered Nurses salary vs area income 109% Median Registered Nurses salary is 9% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Registered Nurses

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $208,940
    Vallejo, CA $192,470
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $188,020
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $178,900
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $172,390
    Modesto, CA $169,460

    Nearby metros — Registered Nurses salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $178,900
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $169,210
    Kahului-Wailuku, HI $139,310
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $127,980
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $101,180
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $100,840

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Pharmacy Technicians $45,570
    Physicians, All Other $215,680
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $72,920
    Pharmacists $137,610
    Physical Therapists $104,200
    Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $69,210

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Registered Nurses make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Registered Nurses in Chicago, IL-IN is $46.38, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $57.34 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Registered Nurses salaries?

    The median Registered Nurses salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 3.1% above the national median of $93,600. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Registered Nurses in Chicago?

    Entry-level Registered Nurses (10th percentile) earn around $72,070 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $81,320.