IL · Evanston · Updated October 15, 2026

Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Evanston, IL

Pay for certified nursing assistants in the Evanston 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 2 hospitals in Evanston. 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 Evanston.

Open Certified Nursing Assistant roles in Evanston

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Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Evanston, 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 Evanston 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 Evanston

  • 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 Evanston 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 Evanston

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 Evanston

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Evanston, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of certified nursing assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Northshore University Healthsystem - Evanston Hospital
Evanston, IL
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Saint Francis Hospital-Evanston
Evanston, IL
Acute careNonprofit2 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
Skokie, IL2 mi$22.14/hr65,850
Des Plaines, IL11 mi$22.14/hr58,832

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 Evanston

Evanston city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Evanston, 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 Evanston 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 Evanston?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Evanston. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Evanston.

Do I need a Illinois license to work in Evanston 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 Evanston 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 Evanston?

The federal per diem benchmark in Evanston 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 Evanston?

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

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

Your CNA pay reportEvanston, IL · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • AccentCareNaperville, IL · 2 postings$22.50/ hr$20–$25
  • ScionHealthNorthlake, IL · 5 postings$22.38/ hr$18–$27
  • Central Maine Healthcare CorporationChicago, IL · 16 postings$22.34/ hr$16–$27
  • Fresenius Medical CareChicago, IL · 15 postings$22.00/ hr$14–$32

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

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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