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.
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 #192 of 370 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 | Santa Cruz, CA | $170,960 | $114,225 | $103,939 |
| 7 | Yuba City, CA | $149,320 | $101,728 | $97,597 |
| 8 | Olympia, WA | $125,020 | $96,717 | $93,293 |
| 192 | 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 370 metros →
Registered Nurse salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Decatur, IL — $87,170
- Champaign, IL — $90,230
- Springfield, IL — $84,220
- Peoria, IL — $81,010
- Kankakee, IL — $86,220
- Rockford, IL — $80,930
- Bloomington, IL — $79,970
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 #192 of 370 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
- 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