Nursing Assistant salary in Illinois
Nursing Assistants in Illinois earn a median of $45,960 a year ($22.10 an hour), based on BLS data for 68,640 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,050 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $42,260. Illinois ranks 15th of 51 states for nursing assistants pay. There are 11 nursing assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $45,230, close to the median.
Pay range for nursing assistants in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,590 | $18.07 |
| 25th percentile | $39,420 | $18.95 |
| Median | $45,960 | $22.10 |
| 75th percentile | $48,380 | $23.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,050 | $25.99 |
| Average (mean) | $45,230 | $21.75 |
Half of nursing assistants 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 | $3,830 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,915 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,767.69 |
| Weekly | $883.85 |
| Hourly | $22.10 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Nursing Assistant salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $46,940 | 45,850 |
| Bloomington, IL | $43,180 | 950 |
| Peoria, IL | $43,040 | 2,740 |
| Decatur, IL | $41,990 | 600 |
| Rockford, IL | $40,140 | 2,120 |
| Springfield, IL | $40,070 | 1,120 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $39,890 | 1,560 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $39,110 | 14,620 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $38,740 | 2,220 |
| Kankakee, IL | $37,900 | 860 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $37,860 | 710 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $36,650 | 680 |
Highest-paying states for nursing assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $49,830 |
| Washington | $49,180 |
| New York | $48,590 |
| New Hampshire | $47,870 |
| District of Columbia | $47,700 |
| California | $47,630 |
| Colorado | $47,380 |
| Vermont | $47,130 |
| Maine | $47,070 |
| New Jersey | $46,830 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Orderly | $39,450 | $18.97 |
| Psychiatric Aide | $48,670 | $23.40 |
| Medical Assistant | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| Phlebotomist | $46,010 | $22.12 |
| Massage Therapist | $60,490 | $29.08 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $65,240 | $31.37 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $37,480 | $18.02 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $48,050 | $23.10 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $64,120 | $30.83 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $37,010 | $17.79 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $45,490 | $21.87 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-1131. 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 nursing assistant make in Illinois?
The median salary for nursing assistants in Illinois is $45,960 a year, or $22.10 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $54,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid nursing assistants make in Illinois?
The top 10% of nursing assistants in Illinois earn at least $54,050 a year. The top 25% earn $48,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for nursing assistants in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,590 a year, and a quarter of nursing assistants earn $39,420 or less.
How many nursing assistants work in Illinois?
About 68,640 nursing assistants are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.