What is the average Registered Nurse salary in Chicago, IL?
Registered Nurses in Chicago earn a median of $91,200 per year — about 6% above the national average. Pay ranges from $65,700 (25th percentile) to $141,400 (90th percentile).
Registered Nurse salary by experience level
How Chicago pay compares
Cost-of-living adjusted is the Chicago salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.
5-year salary trend
Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 3.9%.
Registered Nurse job market in Chicago
Chicago's economy is anchored by finance, manufacturing, and a growing tech scene. Salaries are competitive without the coastal cost of living.
An estimated 15,100 registered nurses work in the Chicago metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:
- Administer medications
- Monitor patient vitals
- Document patient care
- Coordinate with physicians
- Educate patients on conditions
Related job salaries in Chicago
Registered Nurse salary in other cities
FAQ
How much does a Registered Nurse make in Chicago, IL?+
Registered Nurses in Chicago earn a median of $91,200 per year — about 6% above the national average of $86,070.
What's the entry-level Registered Nurse salary in Chicago?+
Entry-level Registered Nurses in Chicago typically earn around $59,300 per year. Salaries scale to about $132,200 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.
Is $91,200 a good Registered Nurse salary in Chicago?+
$91,200 is the median, meaning half of Registered Nurses in Chicago earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 107, that's roughly $85,200 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.
How fast is Registered Nurse pay growing in Chicago?+
Registered Nurse salaries in Chicago grew about 3.9% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +6%.
Where do Registered Nurses in Chicago get paid the most?+
The 90th percentile Registered Nurse salary in Chicago is around $141,400. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.
Are you being paid fairly in Chicago?
Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the Chicago median.
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