Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in Illinois: $79,996 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Illinois's 65 metropolitan areas, the average median licensed practical nurse pay sits at $79,996/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-2061. Because Illinois sits at BEA RPP 97.1 (3% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $82,385 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Naperville ($78,885), Chicago ($78,070), Elgin ($77,374).

Licensed Practical Nurse Salary in Illinois - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — Illinois licensed practical nurse salary overview (2026)

$79,996

Avg Median Salary

$38.47

Avg Hourly Rate

14,531

Metro Employed

Cities

For those considering a career as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) in Illinois, the 2026 projections indicate an average median salary of $79,996, which is significantly higher than the national median of $68,071, showing a noteworthy difference of +17.5%. In terms of geographic salary variations, Naperville tops the list at $83,381, while Springfield offers the lowest at $63,536. This $19,845 gap can be attributed to factors such as local cost of living, healthcare demand, and competition among employers. Illinois has specific licensing requirements and scope of practice regulations that shape the career landscape for LPNs. The state mandates successful completion of an approved practical nursing program and passing the NCLEX-PN exam. With the healthcare sector expanding, particularly in urban centers, the demand for LPNs is expected to rise, contributing to an estimated annual growth rate of 5.70%. The strongest employment opportunities for LPNs in 2026 are projected to be in Naperville, Chicago ($82,520), Elgin ($81,784), Peoria ($76,389), and Rockford ($74,085). This indicates a healthy job market for aspiring nurses looking to train and work in Illinois.

Illinois Licensed Practical Nurse Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$63,658

avg across 65 cities

Median

$79,996

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$98,374

avg across 65 cities

Overall salary range in Illinois: $51,303 (lowest entry-level) to $114,025 (highest top earner)

Illinois vs National Average

Illinois

$79,996

National Median

$68,071

Illinois licensed practical nurses earn 17.52% more than the national median (+$11,925/year difference).

Illinois Licensed Practical Nurse Salary Distribution (2026)

Licensed Practical Nurse salaries in Illinois range from $63,658 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $98,374 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $79,996. The Illinois median is $11,925 above the US national median of $68,071. The average hourly rate is $38.47/hr. Approximately 14,531 licensed practical nurses are employed across 65 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$54,195

2025 BLS Actual

$75,682

2026 Current Est.

$79,996

2019–2027 Growth

+56.0%

Salary Trajectory for Licensed Practical Nurses in Illinois (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.70% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$54,195	Actual
2020	$55,667	Actual
2021	$56,962	Actual
2022	$60,663	Actual
2023	$64,447	Actual
2024	$70,548	Actual
2025	$75,682	Actual
2026(current)	$79,996	Estimated
2027	$84,556	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Illinois metropolitan area, the median licensed practical nurse salary grew 39.6% from $54,195 (2019) to $75,682 (2025). At a 5.70% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $84,556 by 2027 — a total increase of $30,361 (56.02%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Illinois metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.70% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Illinois

Naperville

23 employed · $40.09/hr

$83,381

+4.23% vs avg

Chicago

11,420 employed · $39.68/hr

$82,520

+3.16% vs avg

Elgin

16 employed · $39.32/hr

$81,784

+2.24% vs avg

Peoria

630 employed · $36.73/hr

$76,389

-4.51% vs avg

Rockford

440 employed · $35.62/hr

$74,085

-7.39% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Illinois

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Springfield	$63,536	-20.58%	$30.55
Carbondale	$66,343	-17.07%	$31.90
Elmhurst	$67,003	-16.24%	$32.22
Calumet City	$67,168	-16.04%	$32.29
Galesburg	$67,190	-16.01%	$32.30

Best Value Cities for Licensed Practical Nurses in Illinois

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Illinois cities offer the most purchasing power for licensed practical nurses.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Naperville	$83,381	97.1	$85,871
Elgin	$81,784	97.1	$84,227
Peoria	$76,389	91.231	$83,731
Rockford	$74,085	92.154	$80,393
Decatur	$70,555	88.422	$79,793

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Illinois

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$63,658	$30.60	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$79,996	$38.47	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$98,374	$47.30	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Illinois metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 65 Cities in Illinois

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Naperville	$83,381	$40.09	$61,448	$114,025	23
2	Chicago	$82,520	$39.68	$65,745	$102,032	11,420
3	Elgin	$81,784	$39.32	$63,955	$108,824	16
4	Peoria	$76,389	$36.73	$61,348	$83,366	630
5	Rockford	$74,085	$35.62	$55,144	$87,160	440
6	Orland Park	$71,818	$34.53	$55,639	$91,265	9
7	Bolingbrook	$71,509	$34.38	$52,517	$90,242	19
8	Bloomington	$71,104	$34.18	$54,922	$80,057	170
9	Palatine	$70,971	$34.12	$53,321	$91,063	16
10	Waukegan	$70,932	$34.10	$53,519	$95,439	18
11	Mount Prospect	$70,797	$34.04	$53,199	$90,307	13
12	Hoffman Estates	$70,567	$33.93	$52,657	$89,732	8
13	Decatur	$70,555	$33.92	$57,754	$84,253	220
14	Evanston	$70,432	$33.87	$52,339	$93,583	16
15	Joliet	$70,373	$33.83	$54,502	$92,584	25
16	Oak Park	$70,315	$33.80	$52,063	$88,904	10
17	Danville	$70,169	$33.74	$55,710	$85,928	5
18	Addison	$70,021	$33.67	$55,342	$88,104	6
19	Berwyn	$69,989	$33.64	$51,303	$87,843	12
20	Aurora	$69,944	$33.62	$53,511	$91,162	44
21	Tinley Park	$69,933	$33.62	$56,480	$92,103	8
22	Northbrook	$69,861	$33.59	$54,875	$87,416	8
23	St. Charles	$69,818	$33.57	$54,841	$84,804	7
24	Gurnee	$69,801	$33.56	$54,800	$84,925	8
25	Arlington Heights	$69,704	$33.51	$56,214	$91,344	18
26	Kankakee	$69,667	$33.50	$55,841	$85,226	240
27	Wheaton	$69,614	$33.46	$55,999	$91,048	14
28	Woodridge	$69,592	$33.45	$54,214	$84,086	9
29	Schaumburg	$69,558	$33.44	$55,794	$93,212	13
30	Buffalo Grove	$69,537	$33.43	$57,722	$90,658	7
31	Bartlett	$69,532	$33.43	$54,140	$84,067	9
32	Lake in the Hills	$69,274	$33.31	$53,436	$89,798	6
33	Collinsville	$69,262	$33.30	$53,482	$85,666	5
34	Skokie	$69,243	$33.28	$55,045	$89,609	12
35	Wheeling	$69,142	$33.24	$56,738	$89,369	6
36	Carpentersville	$69,064	$33.20	$56,619	$89,291	8
37	Oak Lawn	$69,019	$33.18	$54,301	$89,099	14
38	O'Fallon	$69,004	$33.18	$52,854	$88,924	6
39	Moline	$68,954	$33.15	$54,045	$84,130	10
40	Quincy	$68,735	$33.04	$52,204	$88,225	6
41	Algonquin	$68,735	$33.04	$51,913	$88,225	5
42	Carol Stream	$68,674	$33.02	$52,058	$88,030	10
43	Normal	$68,671	$33.01	$51,760	$87,969	8
44	Lombard	$68,631	$33.00	$51,953	$87,890	8
45	Cicero	$68,559	$32.96	$53,501	$87,605	21
46	Plainfield	$68,487	$32.93	$56,968	$87,429	11
47	Des Plaines	$68,475	$32.93	$53,303	$87,334	12
48	Oswego	$68,212	$32.80	$56,289	$86,548	7
49	DeKalb	$68,157	$32.77	$56,443	$88,785	9
50	Park Ridge	$68,103	$32.75	$56,306	$86,197	7
51	Hanover Park	$68,075	$32.72	$56,239	$88,520	6
52	Glenview	$68,070	$32.72	$56,226	$88,502	12
53	Rock Island	$67,887	$32.64	$51,730	$82,985	5
54	Romeoville	$67,795	$32.60	$55,552	$85,220	7
55	Champaign	$67,785	$32.59	$52,290	$83,334	300
56	Streamwood	$67,702	$32.55	$55,323	$87,152	8
57	Downers Grove	$67,575	$32.49	$55,015	$86,915	11
58	Belleville	$67,559	$32.48	$54,976	$84,304	10
59	Urbana	$67,539	$32.47	$56,411	$86,156	6
60	Crystal Lake	$67,449	$32.43	$54,707	$86,512	9
61	Galesburg	$67,190	$32.30	$54,081	$85,690	4
62	Calumet City	$67,168	$32.29	$54,027	$83,076	7
63	Elmhurst	$67,003	$32.22	$53,630	$82,727	9
64	Carbondale	$66,343	$31.90	$57,117	$81,863	5
65	Springfield	$63,536	$30.55	$53,305	$81,220	500

More Illinois Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore licensed practical nurse hourly pay in Illinois cities.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new licensed practical nurses.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced licensed practical nurses.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Compare Cities in Illinois

Chicago, ILvsPeoria, IL Chicago, ILvsSpringfield, IL Chicago, ILvsRockford, IL Chicago, ILvsChampaign, IL Chicago, ILvsKankakee, IL Chicago, ILvsDecatur, IL

View all comparisons →

Explore More Licensed Practical Nurse Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do licensed practical nurses make in Illinois in 2026?

The average median licensed practical nurse salary in Illinois is $79,996/year across 65 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $63,536 in Springfield to $83,381 in Naperville. This makes Illinois one of the higher-paying states, at 17.52% above the national median of $68,071. The state employs approximately 14,531 licensed practical nurses.

What is the highest paying city for licensed practical nurses in Illinois?

Naperville offers the highest licensed practical nurse salary in Illinois at $83,381/year ($40.09/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Naperville ($83,381), Chicago ($82,520), Elgin ($81,784). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for nursing services, and competition among employers for licensed licensed practical nurses.

How does Illinois licensed practical nurse pay compare to the national average?

Illinois's average licensed practical nurse salary of $79,996 is 17.52% above the national median of $68,071 in 2026. The state employs approximately 14,531 licensed practical nurses across 65 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level licensed practical nurse salary in Illinois?

Entry-level licensed practical nurses (10th percentile) in Illinois earn approximately $63,658/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $51,303 in lower-paying areas to $65,745 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many licensed practical nurses are employed in Illinois?

Illinois employs approximately 14,531 licensed practical nurses across 65 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Illinois one of the larger employers of licensed practical nurses nationally. Demand continues to grow as the nursing field expands and the population ages.

Which Illinois city offers the best value for licensed practical nurses?

When adjusted for cost of living, Naperville offers the highest purchasing power for licensed practical nurses in Illinois, with an adjusted salary of $85,871 (nominal: $83,381, CoL index: 97.1). This means your dollar goes 3% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

Written by Aisha Malik, LPN

Career Analyst

Aisha has 10 years of experience as a licensed practical nurse. She specializes in pediatric nursing. Aisha has worked in various outpatient clinics.

Clinically reviewed by Daniel Thompson, LPNData verified by Maria Gonzalez, LPN

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 licensed practical nurse compensation across Illinois. State averages are employment-weighted across 65 metro areas — larger metro areas with more licensed practical nursescontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.70%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for licensed practical nurses (SOC 29-2061).

Compiled and verified by Aisha Malik, LPN, a licensed licensed practical nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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