Registered Nurse Salary in Chicago, IL
Registered Nurses in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $100,490 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,695 take-home, or $6,225 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median registered nurse salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,278
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,230
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,457
- Illinois income tax$4,829
- Take-home pay$74,695
Marginal rate: 22% 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 →
Registered Nurse pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,410 | $37.22 | $59,601 | $4,967 |
| 25th percentile | $82,640 | $39.73 | $63,021 | $5,252 |
| Median (50th) | $100,490 | $48.31 | $74,695 | $6,225 |
| 75th percentile | $108,430 | $52.13 | $79,888 | $6,657 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,260 | $57.34 | $86,971 | $7,248 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,490 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 registered nurse's $74,695 take-home pay has the buying power of $72,103 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Registered Nurse jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.02).
Best-paying cities for registered nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #105 of 206 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $216,740 | $142,511 | $129,059 |
| 2 | Vallejo, CA | $203,290 | $134,031 | $123,555 |
| 3 | Santa Rosa, CA | $174,550 | $116,298 | $107,899 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $171,460 | $114,514 | $107,353 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $186,610 | $123,394 | $106,730 |
| 6 | Bend, OR | $135,010 | $92,480 | $89,260 |
| 7 | Bakersfield, CA | $128,810 | $89,883 | $89,094 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $128,260 | $98,932 | $89,021 |
| 105 | Chicago, IL | $100,490 | $74,695 | $72,103 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 206 metros →
About the job: registered nurses
Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.6% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Champaign, IL — $90,230
- Springfield, IL — $84,220
- Peoria, IL — $81,010
- Rockford, IL — $80,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Chicago, IL?
The median registered nurse salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $100,490 a year, or about $48.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,640 and $108,430.
What is a registered nurse’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $100,490 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $74,695 a year ($6,225 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,829 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a registered nurse?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $97,550. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $72,103 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #105 of 206 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a registered nurse 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) — 25% of a median registered nurse’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Dentists, General — $156,100
- Pharmacist — $140,880
- Nurse Practitioner — $131,740
- Physician Assistant — $127,940
- Physical Therapist — $105,720
- Dental Hygienist — $100,260
- Occupational Therapist — $99,860
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $98,490
- Physicians, All Other — $94,820
- Respiratory Therapist — $87,060
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $82,140
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $78,070