salary$100,490 a year$48 an hour · median pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area
Lower pay (bottom 10%)$77,410per year
Top pay (top 10%)$119,260per year
Jobs in the area100,240people work this job
Can a registered nurse afford Chicago?
OK. Rent of $1,983 a month takes 23.7% of the median registered nurse salary. That is under the 30% rule, so one paycheck covers rent comfortably.
Registered Nurse pay in similar cities
Other jobs in Chicago
Nurse PractitionerLicensed Practical NurseNursing AssistantMedical AssistantPharmacistPhysician AssistantDental HygienistElementary School TeacherSoftware DeveloperComputer Systems AnalystAccountantMarket Research AnalystOperations ManagerLawyer
Frequently asked questions
How much does a registered nurse make in Chicago, IL?
The median pay for a registered nurse in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area is $100,490 a year ($48 an hour). Most earn between $77,410 and $119,260.
Can a registered nurse afford to live in Chicago?
Typical rent of $1,983 a month takes 23.7% of the median registered nurse salary, which we rate OK.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area.