IL · Chicago · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Chicago, IL

Pay for certified nursing assistants in the Chicago area centers on $22.14 per hour, or about $46,050 a year. The lower quarter earns under $19.13 and the upper quarter over $23.42. The CMS hospital directory lists 33 hospitals in Chicago. That ranks 42nd of 380 U.S. metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay, and 49th of 341 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Chicago.

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Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Chicago

More open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Chicago

22 more open roles from employers in Chicago. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

All Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Illinois

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Named employers near Chicago, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Who is hiring certified nursing assistants near Chicago

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation6$22.34
Fresenius Medical Care2$22
ScionHealth2$22.38
Select Medical1$22.76
Shriners Hospitals for Children1$23.31

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Chicago, IL

The metro median is 3% above the Illinois statewide median of $21.52 per hour. Nationally the median is $19.01 per hour. BLS counts about 42,800 nursing assistants employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area, 9.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.06).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$18.35$38,1703% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$19.13$39,7901% above U.S. median
Median$22.14$46,05016% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$23.42$48,71023% above U.S. median
Top 10%$24.99$51,98031% above U.S. median

How Chicago ranks

  • 42nd of 380 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 49th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st of 7 Illinois metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Chicago

  • Overall prices in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin run 4% above the U.S. average (index 103.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 12% above the U.S. average (index 112.0).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $22.14 median hour buys what $21.37 buys at the national price level, 12% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Chicago paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$797
  • Per year: $39,852
  • Per month: $3,321

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Chicago

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$195
Meals and incidentals per day$92
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$2,009
13-week assignment$26,117

Travel certified nursing assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Chicago

CMS lists 33 hospitals in Chicago, 6 of the 22 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Chicago, IL		Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, IL		Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Jesse Brown Va Medical Center - Va Chicago Healthcare System
Chicago, IL		Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Presence Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago
Chicago, IL		Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
The University Of Chicago Medical Center
Chicago, IL		Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
University Of Illinois Hospital And Clinics
Chicago, IL		Acute careGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
Chicago, IL		Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Amita Health Resurrection Medical Center
Chicago, IL		Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Presence Saints Mary And Elizabeth Medical Center
Chicago, IL		Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Swedish Hospital
Chicago, IL		Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Cook County

HRSA lists 73 active primary care shortage designations that include Cook County (5 geographic, 37 population-group, 31 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 21 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Certified Nursing Assistant pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Cicero, IL4 mi$22.14/hr82,090
Berwyn, IL5 mi$22.14/hr55,152

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Illinois · Certified Nursing Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Illinois

State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Illinois requires for your role with the Illinois licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Illinois taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Illinois state guide

Other healthcare roles in Chicago

Chicago city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Chicago, IL?

Certified Nursing Assistants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area have a median pay of $22.14 per hour, about $46,050 a year. The middle half earn between $19.13 and $23.42 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Chicago a good place for certified nursing assistants once cost of living is counted?

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin ranks 49th of 341 metro areas for certified nursing assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 42nd of 380 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring certified nursing assistants in Chicago?

We list 12 open roles with published pay from 5 employers in Chicago. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Chicago.

Do I need a Illinois license to work in Chicago as a certified nursing assistant?

State-approved CNA training and active state registry listing. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Illinois requires for your role with the Illinois licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Chicago in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 73 active primary care shortage designations that include Cook County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Chicago?

The federal per diem benchmark in Chicago is $195 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,009 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place certified nursing assistants in Chicago?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Chicago and across Illinois. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Chicago.

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What do employers near Chicago pay certified nursing assistants? Get the report.

Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · CNA near Chicago, IL
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your CNA pay reportChicago, IL · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Central Maine Healthcare CorporationChicago, IL · 16 postings$22.34/ hr$16–$27
  • Fresenius Medical CareChicago, IL · 15 postings$22.00/ hr$14–$32
  • United Methodist Homes & ServicesChicago, IL · 2 wage offers$17.39/ hr$17–$18
  • AccentCareNaperville, IL · 2 postings$22.50/ hr$20–$25

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$18Median$20.75High$27

117 CNA postings with published pay in Illinois, 99 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 117 CNA roles

  1. Patient Care Technician - PCTPermanent
    $18.00–$27.00/ hour
    Fresenius Medical Care · Oswego, IL · posted today
  2. Patient Care Assistant (CNA) Medical SurgicalPermanent
    $18.00–$26.88/ hour
    Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Aurora, IL · posted today

+ 115 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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