Travel Nurse Pay in Illinois (2026)
Illinois is one of the biggest nursing markets in the country, and Chicago teaching hospitals keep travel demand constant. Here are the verified BLS numbers, typical package ranges, and the tax and licensure fine print.
By the NursePayLab editorial team · Updated $1
Key numbers at a glance
| Measure | Figure | What it means for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| RN employment (Illinois) | 138,910 | Size of the staff market behind you (per BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
| Median RN wage | $95,990/yr ($46.15/hr) | Staff baseline that anchors hospital bill rates |
| Mean RN wage | $94,360/yr ($45.36/hr) | Includes the experienced-nurse band travelers replace |
| Entry RN (10th pct) | $69,170/yr | Floor of the market |
Travel nurse pay in Illinois: the numbers
Illinois employed 138,910 registered nurses as of May 2025, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey — one of the largest RN workforces of any state. The median RN wage was $95,990 ($46.15/hr) per year against a mean of $94,360 ($45.36/hr), with the 10th percentile at $69,170 and the 90th at $118,190.
That spread is informative for travelers: the 75th percentile ($105,960) is where experienced ICU, OR and L&D nurses cluster in the Chicago metro, and that is the wage level hospitals are replacing when they open traveler positions. Downstate pay runs lower, but so does the cost of living and the competition for shifts — Springfield, Peoria and Rockford facilities post steady traveler lines with less churn than the Chicago academic centers.
The travel range below is deliberately hedged: Chicago winter crisis-rate spikes and summer slowdowns can move quotes by hundreds of dollars a week at the same hospital. Treat it as a planning band and verify live offers with your recruiter.
| Measure | Figure | What it means for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| RN employment (Illinois) | 138,910 | Size of the staff market behind you (per BLS OEWS, May 2025) |
| Median RN wage | $95,990/yr ($46.15/hr) | Staff baseline that anchors hospital bill rates |
| Mean RN wage | $94,360/yr ($45.36/hr) | Includes the experienced-nurse band travelers replace |
| Entry RN (10th pct) | $69,170/yr | Floor of the market |
| Experienced RN (75th–90th pct) | $105,960–$118,190/yr | Where bill rates cluster |
| Typical travel package (hedged) | roughly $2,200–$2,900/week gross | Taxable wage + stipends; varies by specialty and season — verify with recruiters |
| State income tax (2026) | Flat 4.95% (reciprocity with IA, KY, MI, WI) | Applies to taxable wages only, not stipends |
| Nurse Licensure Compact | No — separate Illinois license (IDFPR) required | Determines how fast you can start |
All BLS figures on this page: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 release (bls.gov/oes). Wage figures are for staff registered nurses (SOC 29-1141), all industries — travel packages are quoted separately and are inherently variable. See the full list on our travel nurse pay by state hub.
How stipends change the math in Illinois
Illinois contracts follow the standard two-bucket structure: a taxable hourly wage and tax-free housing plus M&IE stipends capped by the federal GSA tables for the assignment county (current rates at gsa.gov/perdiem). Chicago's lodging caps are materially higher than downstate's — two identical $2,600/week offers can carry different stipend splits depending on which one is Chicago and which is Decatur, which changes your after-tax result even at the same gross.
Illustrative math for a downstate split: $25/hr × 36 hours = $900/week taxable. Subtract roughly $103 federal, $69 FICA and $45 Illinois tax at 4.95%, keeping about $683. Add $1,500 housing plus $400 meals — $1,900 tax-free — for roughly $2,583/week take-home, a blended rate near $72/hour. If you are an Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan or Wisconsin resident, reciprocity swaps the Illinois 4.95% for your home rate, which can move the result either direction. Run the exact scenario in our take-home calculator and compare offers by blended rate.
The stipends only stay tax-free if you maintain a valid tax home and real duplicated expenses — a point worth double-checking when you are bouncing between a Chicago contract and a home base in a neighboring state.
Illinois income tax: flat 4.95% — with reciprocity
Illinois taxes individual income at a flat 4.95%, unchanged for 2026 (per the Illinois Department of Revenue) — the flat structure is constitutionally locked after the 2020 graduated-tax amendment failed. Two practical points for travelers. First, nonresidents pay Illinois tax on Illinois wages unless a reciprocity agreement applies. Second, Illinois maintains reciprocity with Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin: if you are a resident of one of those states, your Illinois wages stay taxed by your home state instead. Verify your own filing position with the Illinois DOR or a CPA before assuming either way.
Tax figures here are 2026 planning rates from official state sources and the Tax Foundation's 2026 tables — confirm your own filing position with the relevant state revenue department or a CPA; this page is not tax advice.
Licensure in Illinois: not a compact state
Illinois is not a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact — compact bills have been introduced repeatedly in Springfield without passing. You need an individual Illinois RN license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (idfpr.com) even with a multistate license, and out-of-state license processing times can be the binding constraint on a Chicago start date. Build that lead time into your plans and confirm current turnaround with IDFPR before accepting an offer. Compact status per the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (ncsbn.org).
Where the demand is in Illinois
Chicago dominates: Northwestern Memorial, Rush University Medical Center, the University of Chicago Medical Center and Advocate Christ draw the deepest traveler demand in the state, particularly in ICU and step-down units. Downstate, Memorial Health and HSHS St. John's in Springfield, OSF Saint Francis in Peoria and the Rockford hospitals run steadier, quieter contracts. Chicago stipends are set against meaningful GSA lodging rates but Chicago rents can consume them quickly; downstate stipend caps are lower and usually easier to live within.
Stipend ceilings everywhere follow the federal per-diem tables for your assignment location — gsa.gov/perdiem.
FAQ
How much do travel nurses make in Illinois?
Per BLS OEWS (May 2025), the median staff RN in Illinois earns $95,990/year. Travel packages typically quote $2,200–$2,900/week gross, with Chicago academic centers at the top of the band — verify current offers with recruiters.
Is Illinois a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
No. You need an individual Illinois RN license through IDFPR; a multistate compact license does not cover Illinois assignments.
Are stipends taxed in Illinois?
Stipends are tax-free with a valid tax home; Illinois' flat 4.95% applies only to your taxable wages.
Does Illinois tax nurses who live in Iowa or Kentucky?
Not usually — Illinois has reciprocity with Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin, so residents of those states pay their home state on Illinois wages instead. Confirm your situation with a tax professional.
Chicago or downstate: which pays better for travelers?
Chicago gross quotes are typically higher and GSA stipend caps are larger, but housing costs more; downstate contracts often net similarly after stipends buy more. Compare after-tax take-home, not gross.
What is a good blended rate in Illinois?
An illustrative $2,583/week take-home over 36 hours is about $72/hour blended. Use the blended rate method on your actual offers; anything in the low-to-mid $70s is competitive for Illinois.