Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in Illinois
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Illinois earn a median of $75,000 a year ($36.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,440 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,810 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $64,400. Illinois ranks 12th of 51 states for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses pay. There are 2.9 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $73,430, close to the median.
Pay range for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,880 | $28.31 |
| 25th percentile | $63,580 | $30.57 |
| Median | $75,000 | $36.06 |
| 75th percentile | $79,560 | $38.25 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,810 | $43.18 |
| Average (mean) | $73,430 | $35.30 |
Half of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,250 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,125 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,884.62 |
| Weekly | $1,442.31 |
| Hourly | $36.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $78,070 | 11,420 |
| Peoria, IL | $72,270 | 630 |
| Rockford, IL | $70,090 | 440 |
| Bloomington, IL | $67,270 | 170 |
| Decatur, IL | $66,750 | 220 |
| Kankakee, IL | $65,910 | 240 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $65,120 | 5,180 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $64,130 | 300 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $64,100 | 640 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $62,060 | 300 |
| Springfield, IL | $60,110 | 500 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $60,100 | 410 |
Highest-paying states for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $83,150 |
| Alaska | $80,800 |
| Oregon | $80,470 |
| Massachusetts | $80,220 |
| Rhode Island | $80,090 |
| California | $79,750 |
| New Hampshire | $77,110 |
| Arizona | $77,070 |
| Nevada | $76,160 |
| District of Columbia | $75,740 |
See Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay in every state.
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician | $46,650 | $22.43 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $71,950 | $34.59 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $46,200 | $22.21 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $79,930 | $38.43 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $56,440 | $27.14 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $46,440 | $22.33 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $49,930 | $24.00 |
| Paramedic | $60,660 | $29.16 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $100,660 | $48.40 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $47,100 | $22.64 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $43,960 | $21.14 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $95,380 | $45.86 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2061. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in Illinois?
The median salary for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Illinois is $75,000 a year, or $36.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in Illinois?
The top 10% of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Illinois earn at least $89,810 a year. The top 25% earn $79,560 or more.
What is the starting pay for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,880 a year, and a quarter of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn $63,580 or less.
How many licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses work in Illinois?
About 17,440 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.