What licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn in Illinois and its metro areas, compared with the rest of the country (May 2025 BLS data).
a year, or $36.06 an hour. That is 16% more than the national median of $64,400.
The middle half of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Illinois earn $63,580 to $79,560.
Illinois pays licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses more than 39 of the other 49 states. Highest: Washington ($83,150).
2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the state, 0.69× the U.S. concentration.
Metro and rural (nonmetropolitan) areas as BLS defines them, including metro areas that cross into neighboring states.. Click a column to sort.
| Area | Pay a year | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $37.54 | 11,420 | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $31.31 | 5,180 | |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $30.56 | 1,060 | |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $30.86 | 880 | |
| East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31.66 | 720 | |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $30.82 | 640 | |
| Peoria, IL | $34.75 | 630 | |
| Springfield, IL | $28.90 | 500 | |
| Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $31.27 | 470 | |
| Rockford, IL | $33.70 | 440 | |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $28.90 | 410 | |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $30.83 | 300 | |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $29.84 | 300 | |
| Kankakee, IL | $31.69 | 240 | |
| Decatur, IL | $32.09 | 220 | |
| Bloomington, IL | $32.34 | 170 |
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in Illinois earned a median of $75,000 a year ($36.06 an hour) in May 2025, 16% more than the national median of $64,400. The middle half earned $63,580 to $79,560.
Among areas in Illinois, pay was highest in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at $78,070.
Illinois ranks #11 of 50 states for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses pay. Washington pays the most, at $83,150 a year. Pay figures don't account for differences in cost of living.
About 17,440 people worked as licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Illinois in May 2025, or 2.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the state.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, all industries. Median pay is the middle wage; where BLS publishes no median, the average (mean) is shown, marked "(avg)". Values marked "+" are above the most BLS reports exactly. Pay doesn't reflect cost of living, overtime or shift differentials.