Nursing Assistant Salary in Chicago, IL
Nursing Assistants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $46,940 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,718 take-home, or $3,143 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nursing assistant salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,453
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,910
- Medicare (1.45%)$681
- Illinois income tax$2,179
- Take-home pay$37,718
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Nursing Assistant pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,980 | $18.74 | $31,716 | $2,643 |
| 25th percentile | $42,940 | $20.64 | $34,702 | $2,892 |
| Median (50th) | $46,940 | $22.57 | $37,718 | $3,143 |
| 75th percentile | $49,060 | $23.59 | $39,316 | $3,276 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,450 | $26.18 | $43,380 | $3,615 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,940 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median nursing assistant's $37,718 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,409 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nursing Assistant jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for nursing assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #33 of 113 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $56,840 | $45,652 | $41,343 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $47,240 | $40,137 | $39,999 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $43,940 | $36,468 | $39,768 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $51,990 | $43,954 | $39,551 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $56,080 | $45,097 | $39,007 |
| 6 | Milwaukee, WI | $45,690 | $37,663 | $38,853 |
| 7 | Scranton, PA | $43,980 | $36,168 | $38,659 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $45,350 | $38,619 | $38,536 |
| 33 | Chicago, IL | $46,940 | $37,718 | $36,409 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 113 metros →
About the job: nursing assistants
Provide or assist with basic care or support under the direction of onsite licensed nursing staff. Perform duties such as monitoring of health status, feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or ambulation of patients in a health or nursing facility. May include medication administration and other health-related tasks.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.6% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Nursing Assistant salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Peoria, IL — $43,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nursing assistant make in Chicago, IL?
The median nursing assistant salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $46,940 a year, or about $22.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,940 and $49,060.
What is a nursing assistant’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $46,940 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $37,718 a year ($3,143 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,179 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a nursing assistant?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $42,260. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,409 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #33 of 113 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nursing assistant afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 49% of a median nursing assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Physical Therapist Assistant — $72,230
- Massage Therapist — $61,200
- Dental Assistant — $48,950
- Medical Assistant — $47,270
- Phlebotomist — $47,190
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $38,180