Are you looking for high-paying RN, LPN, & CNA jobs in Illinois? Apply for per diem nursing jobs from the palm of your hand with our per diem app.
StatesAre you looking for high-paying RN, LPN, & CNA jobs in Illinois? Apply for per diem nursing jobs from the palm of your hand with our per diem app.
If you are in the nursing field in Illinois or interested in joining it, then this guide is for you. Read on to learn about the best nursing programs in Illinois and everything there is to know about nurse salaries, cost of living, highest-paying cities, cheapest cities, and more!
If you’re not yet a nurse, let us walk you through the most common ways to obtain a nursing license and a bit about the pros and cons of each one.
A practical nursing program takes only one year to complete, making it the fastest and cheapest way to become a nurse. After completing one of these programs, aspiring nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)—in this case the NCLEX-PN. Once they pass this exam they will receive their nursing licenses as licensed practical nurses (LPNs). Although this option has many advantages, LPNs are generally the lowest-earning nurses.
The next fastest way to become a nurse—and the fastest way to become a registered nurse (RN)—is through an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN). These programs take approximately two years to complete and prepare graduates to take the NCLEX-RN, which enables them to become licensed RNs. Registered nurses earn significantly more than LPNs, so this is certainly an important consideration.
Finally, a bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN) also prepares students to pass the NCLEX-RN and become registered nurses. This option takes approximately four years to complete and is generally the most expensive option; however, RNs with BSNs also earn the highest salaries among these three types of nurses and have more job opportunities than RNs with ADNs.
After completing one of these nursing programs, passing the NCLEX, and receiving your nursing license, you will officially be a nurse and can begin searching for nursing jobs!
If you want to become a nurse fast and have chosen to become a licensed practical nurse, here are the best practical nursing programs in Illinois based on their first-time NCLEX pass rates in 2022:
Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Are you willing to commit to one additional year of schooling in order to obtain a higher salary and greater responsibilities? Here are the ADN programs in Illinois that obtained the highest NCLEX pass rates in 2022:
Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Ready to tackle a BSN? If this financial and time commitment is within your possibilities, it is definitely the best choice! Once you start raking in those high RN salaries, your commitment will seem more than worth the effort. Choose among the following top BSN programs in Illinois as demonstrated by their high first-time NCLEX pass rates in 2022:
Source: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Another excellent way to enter the nursing field that we haven’t yet covered is training as a certified nursing assistant. Frankly, all nursing students or aspiring nurses should consider training as CNAs. Training as a CNA can take as little as four weeks, and there are even free programs available. After this short training period, nursing students can begin working as CNAs, acquiring valuable experience in the field and even helping pay for nursing school! The best way to work as a CNA during nursing school is to pick up per diem CNA jobs; this way, students can pick up shifts around their school schedule and pick up more shifts during school breaks. In other words, per diem jobs give students the flexibility to focus on their studies and increase or decrease their work according to their availability.
Want to know how much you can make as a CNA in Illinois? Here are the average hourly, weekly, monthly, and annual wages for CNAs in Illinois:
Now, as you must suspect, entry-level CNAs might not make as much, and experienced CNAs naturally make much more than the average CNA salary. With that in mind, here are the different salary tiers for CNAs in Illinois, from the lowest-paid ten percent to the highest-paid CNAs:
Another factor that can significantly affect CNA pay is location. In fact, a new CNA in Kankakee might make more than a more experienced CNA in Marion. To help you find the highest-paying cities for CNAs, here are average CNA salaries in Illinois by metropolitan area:
Are you already a CNA and looking for some high-paying jobs? Browse available per diem CNA jobs here!
Are you a licensed practical nurse? Here are the average hourly, weekly, monthly, and annual wages for LPNs in Illinois:
Just like CNA salary, LPN salary can vary significantly. On this note, here is the range of LPN salary in Illinois from the lowest to the highest percentile:
Want to learn more about the factors influencing LPN salary? Read the Ultimate Guide to LPN Pay [Updated 2023].
As you know, location is key when it comes to salary. As far as LPN salary in Illinois goes, the average can vary by over $12,000 from one city to the next! Want to work in the highest-paying city for LPNs? The following list shows average LPN salaries in Illinois by metropolitan area, in order from the highest- to the lowest-paying cities:
If you are a registered nurse or on your way to becoming one, here is how much you can expect to earn per hour, week, month, and year as an RN in Illinios:
Although Illinois is not among the top ten best-paying states for RNs, once you factor in the cost of living in this state, it is actually the fifth best state for RNs. This might seem a bit confusing, but here is how it works: Although the average RN hourly wage is $37.63 per hour, the hourly wage adjusted to the cost of living in Illinois is $41.17 per hour. More on the cost of living in Illinois is coming up!
As is the case with all other nursing salaries, RN salary can vary significantly based on different factors, such as years of work experience, nursing certifications, type of facility, location, etc. A combination of these factors will determine which of the following salary percentiles you might fall into:
Want to learn more about the factors influencing nurse pay? Read our Nurse Salary Guide: Understand How Much You Can Make as a Nurse.
One of the most significant factors affecting RN pay is location. RNs in some parts of Illinois can earn over $15,000 more per year than RNs in other areas. Want to know which locations pay RNs the most? The following list shows average RN salaries in Illinois from the highest-paying to the lowest-paying areas:
As promised, let’s talk more about the cost of living in Illinois. For a single adult, the living wage in Illinois is $18.10 per hour; this means that a person must earn at least this much in order to cover basic living expenses. Not on your own? Then, the cost of living varies significantly. Let’s cover a few different possibilities.
Single parents in Illinois must earn at least the following amounts to support one or more children in this state:
In households with two adults but only one source of income, these are the required living wages based on the number of children:
Finally, in households with two working adults, here are the hourly wages each adult must earn based on their number of children:
The previously mentioned living wages are based on typical living expenses in Illinois. However, in reality, each household has different expenses based on its particular circumstances. A family that has inherited a house will have minimal housing costs. A family that has support from other family members, such as grandparents, to care for the children could potentially have zero childcare expenses. With all this in mind, the following typical living expenses can help you figure out what your particular living expenses are—or would be if you lived in Illinois—and, therefore, what living wage you have to earn to cover these expenses.
Here are typical living expenses in Illinois households composed of one adult with and without children:
Source: Glasmeier, Amy K. Living Wage Calculator. 2020. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/17
The following are typical living expenses in households composed of two adults (one working) with and without children:
Source: Glasmeier, Amy K. Living Wage Calculator. 2020. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/17
Finally, this table shows typical living expenses in Illinois households composed of two working adults with and without children:
Source: Glasmeier, Amy K. Living Wage Calculator. 2020. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://livingwage.mit.edu/states/17
Once we come face to face with the reality of living expenses, living in a cheap area might seem even more attractive than living in a high-paying city. If this is your current frame of mind, you’ll be interested to know which cities in Illinois have the lowest cost of living. Here is the living wage for each metropolitan area in Illinois from the cheapest to the most expensive areas:
Source: Table created with data from the MIT living wage calculator.
In the end, you must consider many factors to help you determine which location can offer you the highest quality of life. In financial terms, you must compare your potential salary—based on your nursing license—with the cost of living in each area to determine which location offers you the best compensation.
Table created based on data from the MIT living wage calculator and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
If you are a CNA, this table offers you some vital information: Danville and Kankakee are the only metropolitan areas in Illinois where the average CNA salary surpasses the living wage.
LPNs and RNs can rest assured since average nurse salaries in any city in Illinois significantly surpass the living wage. That said, keep in mind that the living wage increases with each child or other dependant, so you must consider your particular household expenses to determine how much you need to earn and which city can offer you the salary you need.
Need to supplement your income? Browse high-paying per diem nursing jobs available today!
Are you new to Illinois? Let us give you a few ideas of what to do and see in the Prairie State:
Did you know that Chicago is the third largest city in the United States? It’s no surprise that this city has plenty of attractions for all interests. Like sports? Chicago has eight major league sports teams. Additionally, Chicago boasts all of the following:
If you are only in Chicago for a day or even just a few hours, take a stroll along the Chicago Riverwalk and take your pick of the cafes, bars, and restaurants you see along the way. You can also appreciate this city’s world-famous architecture and its urban parks as part of your walking tour. Aside from seeing Chicago from the streets, you can appreciate it from ninety-four stories high at the 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck.
Oh, and if you have kids—or are a kid at heart—you must visit Six Flags!
If you enjoy history and happen to be in Springfield, then you should certainly visit the first and only home former President Abraham Lincoln owned, with much of the original structure, walls, and foundations still intact today. In fact, this attraction includes more than just the house. It covers four square blocks and includes over a dozen historic buildings. Tickets are free but can run out fast, so make sure you show up early! They are given out on a first-come, first-served basis and must be obtained in person at the Visitor Center on the day of the visit.
Nature and adventure lovers should visit Starved Rock State Park along the Illinois River in Utica. This park is one of Illinois' most beautiful attractions. It boasts eighteen dramatic moss-covered canyons formed by glacial meltwater. The park also has thirteen miles of trails taking visitors to rain-fed waterfalls, sandstone overhangs, and beautiful views. Visitors can enjoy various activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, boating, kayaking, and hunting. The Visitor Center is open year-round, and the Starved Rock Lodge offers luxury lodging, cabin rooms, and fine dining.
With its competitive nursing salaries and lower-than-average cost of living, Illinois is one of the best states for nurses to work. In addition to offering nurses great financial security, Illinois boasts a long list of quality nursing programs and a variety of natural, cultural, and historic attractions, making it a top choice for nurses at any stage of their careers—from nursing school to retirement.
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