The salary range for a registered nurse in Illinois runs from $69,170 at the 10th percentile to $118,190 at the 90th percentile. When budgeting, treat this as the realistic span you will encounter across candidates at different experience and specialization levels. Offers near the midpoint of $95,990 will be competitive for most mid-career hires, while senior or specialized roles will require offers closer to the upper end.
Registered nurse salary in Illinois (2026)
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The average salary for a registered nurse in Illinois is $94,360 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $95,990 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Illinois employs 138,910 registered nurses, and the $1,630 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior registered nurses in Illinois typically earn around $69,170, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $118,190 level. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a registered nurse hire in Illinois, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $95,990 |
Average Annual Salary | $94,360 |
vs. National Average | 7.0% below the national mean of $101,420 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 138,910 employed registered nurses across Illinois.
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Registered nurse salary percentiles in Illinois
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $69,170 |
25th Percentile | $80,020 |
75th Percentile | $105,960 |
90th Percentile | $118,190 |
Employers setting an offer for a registered nurse in Illinois should expect a wide range depending on experience level. Entry-level candidates typically fall near $69,170, while experienced specialists commonly earn at or above $118,190, giving you a practical budgeting span of roughly $49,000 across the distribution.
Registered nurse salary by city in Illinois
City | Average Annual Salary |
Chicago | $97,930 |
Champaign | $90,970 |
Springfield | $89,200 |
Rockford | $87,550 |
Peoria | $86,570 |
Where you hire within Illinois will meaningfully affect your compensation budget for a registered nurse. Chicago commands the highest average at $97,930, while Peoria sits at the lower end at $86,570, a difference of more than $11,000 per year. Employers hiring outside the Chicago metro can generally set offers closer to the lower end of the state range without losing competitiveness in those local markets.
How Illinois compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Illinois | $94,360 | $95,990 |
Texas | $95,380 | $95,970 |
Wisconsin | $94,690 | $95,530 |
Michigan | $94,300 | $94,300 |
Indiana | $89,150 | $83,500 |
Ohio | $87,730 | $82,510 |
Illinois employers can expect compensation expectations to be broadly similar to those in neighboring Midwest states, with little room to underpay relative to regional peers. Illinois sits within $1,000 of both Texas and Wisconsin on average pay, so candidates with multi-state options will not face a large financial incentive to relocate. Indiana and Ohio offer lower average costs at $89,150 and $87,730 respectively, but those markets also reflect different labor supply conditions.
Frequently asked questions about registered nurse salary in Illinois
What is the salary range for a registered nurse in Illinois?
What is the average registered nurse salary in Illinois?
The average registered nurse salary in Illinois is $94,360 per year. The median of $95,990 is slightly higher, which tells you that a larger share of nurses earn at or above the average than below it. For most hiring decisions, anchoring to the $95,990 median will give you a more accurate picture of market expectations than the mean alone.
How does Illinois compare to other states for registered nurse salary?
Illinois sits 7.0% below the national mean of $101,420, but it tracks closely with neighboring states like Wisconsin at $94,690 and Michigan at $94,300. Candidates comparing Illinois offers to those in Indiana or Ohio will find Illinois pays noticeably more, with Indiana averaging $89,150 and Ohio averaging $87,730. This regional context means Illinois employers are not at a disadvantage when competing for talent against most Midwest markets.
What do the top-earning registered nurses make in Illinois?
Registered nurses at the 90th percentile in Illinois earn $118,190 per year. Senior specialists and those in high-demand settings or leadership roles are the candidates most likely to command offers at this level. When competing for that tier of talent, plan your offer range accordingly and factor in the Chicago metro premium, where the average reaches $97,930.
Registered Nurse salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1141 (Registered Nurses).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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