Nurse Practitioner Salary in Chicago, IL
Nurse Practitioners in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $131,740 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $94,934 take-home, or $7,911 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median nurse practitioner salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,352
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,168
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,910
- Illinois income tax$6,376
- Take-home pay$94,934
Marginal rate: 24% 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.
Nurse Practitioner pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $106,260 | $51.09 | $78,469 | $6,539 |
| 25th percentile | $118,710 | $57.07 | $86,611 | $7,218 |
| Median (50th) | $131,740 | $63.34 | $94,934 | $7,911 |
| 75th percentile | $149,150 | $71.71 | $105,972 | $8,831 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,750 | $79.21 | $115,862 | $9,655 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $131,740 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 nurse practitioner's $94,934 take-home pay has the buying power of $91,640 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Nurse Practitioner jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for nurse practitioners, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #108 of 117 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $231,560 | $150,760 | $136,530 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $219,080 | $143,890 | $124,458 |
| 3 | Killeen, TX | $138,670 | $106,047 | $116,366 |
| 4 | Tulsa, OK | $139,460 | $100,857 | $113,050 |
| 5 | Sioux Falls, SD | $130,390 | $100,388 | $110,765 |
| 6 | McAllen, TX | $122,550 | $95,029 | $110,634 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $144,060 | $109,731 | $109,496 |
| 8 | Fresno, CA | $166,570 | $111,690 | $109,330 |
| 108 | Chicago, IL | $131,740 | $94,934 | $91,640 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 117 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a nurse practitioner make in Chicago, IL?
The median nurse practitioner salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $131,740 a year, or about $63.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $118,710 and $149,150.
What is a nurse practitioner’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $131,740 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $94,934 a year ($7,911 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,376 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a nurse practitioner?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $132,300. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $91,640 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #108 of 117 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a nurse practitioner 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) — 19% of a median nurse practitioner’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $226,060
- Family Medicine Physician — $225,080
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist — $208,000
- Pediatricians, General — $188,340
- Dentists, General — $156,100
- Veterinarian — $148,730
- Optometrist — $145,630
- Pharmacist — $140,880