Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse Salary in Chicago, IL
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $78,070 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,033 take-home, or $5,003 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,345
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,840
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,132
- Illinois income tax$3,720
- Take-home pay$60,033
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 →
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,200 | $29.90 | $49,224 | $4,102 |
| 25th percentile | $72,860 | $35.03 | $56,625 | $4,719 |
| Median (50th) | $78,070 | $37.53 | $60,033 | $5,003 |
| 75th percentile | $81,080 | $38.98 | $62,001 | $5,167 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,530 | $46.41 | $72,105 | $6,009 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,070 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 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse's $60,033 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,949 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.61), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 53 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $95,320 | $70,013 | $63,405 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $85,690 | $69,113 | $62,189 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $75,920 | $62,240 | $62,106 |
| 4 | Providence, RI | $78,990 | $62,054 | $60,973 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $94,310 | $69,410 | $60,036 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $78,080 | $62,016 | $60,026 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $82,190 | $62,761 | $57,969 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $78,070 | $60,033 | $57,949 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 53 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse make in Chicago, IL?
The median licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $78,070 a year, or about $37.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $72,860 and $81,080.
What is a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $78,070 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $60,033 a year ($5,003 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,720 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurse?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $64,400. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,949 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 53 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a licensed practical and licensed vocational 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) — 31% of a median licensed practical and licensed vocational 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
- Registered Nurse — $100,490
- 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