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Registered Nurse Salary in Illinois
In May 2024, registered nurses in Illinois earned a median annual wage of $86,410 ($41.54 an hour) and a mean annual wage of $91,130, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey. BLS counted 139,900 registered nurses working in Illinois — about 4.3% of the 3,282,010 such jobs in the United States. This page breaks down how that pay compares with the national figures for the occupation, where Illinois ranks among all states, and how pay is spread from entry-level to top earners inside the state. For wider context, the U.S. all-occupation median wage in the same survey was $23.80 an hour; the Illinois page linked below puts this occupation alongside every other job BLS publishes for the state.
How Illinois ranks for registered nurse pay
Among the 51 states and areas where BLS publishes a median for this occupation, Illinois ranks #24 for registered nurse pay. The Illinois median of $86,410 is 7.7% lower than the national median of $93,600, and the state mean of $91,130 compares with a national mean of $98,430 (7.4% lower). The highest-paying state, California, posts a median of $140,330, so Illinois sits $53,920 behind the top of the market. For a registered nurse weighing a move, that gap has to be set against Illinois's housing and living costs, which this wage survey does not measure.
The pay spread inside Illinois
Not every registered nurse in Illinois earns the median. The lowest-paid 10% earned $64,930 or less in May 2024, and the bottom quarter earned $79,150 or less. At the top of the distribution, the highest-paid quarter earned at least $103,660 and the top 10% earned at least $112,320. Experience, employer type, shift and overtime patterns, and metro-versus-rural location all push individual pay toward one end of that range. Statewide, the occupation is also a meaningful part of the Illinois job market: by employment it ranks #3 among the occupations BLS publishes for the state — see the full Illinois salary page for the state's complete tables.
Registered Nurse pay in Illinois at a glance
| Measure | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $86,410 | $93,600 |
| Mean annual wage | $91,130 | $98,430 |
| Median hourly wage | $41.54 | $45.00 |
| 10th percentile | $64,930 | $66,030 |
| 25th percentile | $79,150 | $78,610 |
| 75th percentile | $103,660 | $107,960 |
| 90th percentile | $112,320 | $135,320 |
| Employment | 139,900 | 3,282,010 |
For the full state-by-state picture of this occupation, see the Registered Nurses salary by state page. For every occupation's pay in this state, see average salary in Illinois.
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Registered Nurse in Illinois FAQ
How much do registered nurses make in Illinois?
The median wage for registered nurses in Illinois was $86,410 a year ($41.54 an hour) in May 2024, and the mean was $91,130, across 139,900 jobs.
Is Illinois a good-paying state for registered nurses?
Illinois ranks #24 of 51 published states and areas for registered nurse median pay. Its median of $86,410 is 7.7% lower than the national median of $93,600.
How many registered nurses work in Illinois?
BLS estimated 139,900 registered nurses jobs in Illinois in May 2024 — about 4.3% of the 3,282,010 such jobs nationwide.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.