PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Registered Nurse RN - Emergency
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Chicago, IL
$35.35–$53.58/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Emergency nurse jobs in Chicago, IL
The median registered nurse pay in the Chicago area is $46.38 per hour ($96,480 a year), with the typical range running from $39.10 to $50.35. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Chicago. The CMS hospital directory lists 33 hospitals in Chicago. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Chicago.
- $46.38median pay per hour, Chicago
- $39–$50typical range per hour
- 100,620registered nurses employed in the metro area
- 2open roles with published pay
Open Emergency nurse roles in Chicago
PermanentPosted 14 days ago
Registered Nurse RN- Emergency Department
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Chicago, IL
$35.35–$53.58/ hour
Top 25% pay
For youUpdated weekly
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Get my free pay reportRegistered Nurse pay in Chicago, IL
The metro median is 12% above the Illinois statewide median of $41.54 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 100,620 registered nurses employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area, 22.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.06).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $34.65 | $72,070 | 23% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $39.10 | $81,330 | 13% below U.S. median |
| Median | $46.38 | $96,480 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $50.35 | $104,730 | 12% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $56.77 | $118,080 | 26% above U.S. median |
How Chicago ranks
- 85th of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 104th of 335 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st of 7 Illinois metro areas
BLS does not publish a separate figure for emergency nurse. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Registered Nurses.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141), 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 $46.38 median hour buys what $44.77 buys at the national price level, 1% below 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$1,670
- Per year: $83,484
- Per month: $6,957
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
| Item | Federal 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 emergency nurse 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 emergency nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Rush University Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Jesse Brown Va Medical Center - Va Chicago Healthcare System Chicago, IL | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Presence Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| The University Of Chicago Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| University Of Illinois Hospital And Clinics Chicago, IL | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Amita Health Resurrection Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Presence Saints Mary And Elizabeth Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Swedish Hospital Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
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.
License and tax basics in Illinois
Illinois is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the Illinois board for a license by endorsement before working here.
Illinois taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Chicago
Chicago city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do emergency nurses make in Chicago, IL?
BLS reports pay for registered nurses overall, not by specialty. Registered Nurses in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area have a median pay of $46.38 per hour, about $96,480 a year. The middle half earn between $39.10 and $50.35 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Chicago a good place for emergency nurses once cost of living is counted?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin ranks 104th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 85th of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring emergency nurses in Chicago?
We list 2 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Chicago. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Chicago.
Do I need a Illinois license to work in Chicago as an emergency nurse?
Illinois is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026, so a nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the Illinois board for a license by endorsement before working here. 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 emergency nurses 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 emergency nurses? 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.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RN pay reportChicago, IL · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Insight Chicago, Inc.Chicago, IL · 3 wage offers$47.00/ hr$47–$47
- Saint Anthony HospitalChicago, IL · 9 wage offers$46.00/ hr$36–$47
- Acadia HealthcareChicago, IL · 2 postings$45.87/ hr$36–$56
- Shriners Hospitals for ChildrenChicago, IL · 3 postings$44.64/ hr$36–$57
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$34Median$42.69High$54
525 RN postings with published pay in Illinois, 373 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 525 RN roles
- Internal Registry RN - Psych AcutePermanent$60.00–$60.00/ hour
- Registered Nurse, Patient Navigator - Full TimePermanent$38.80–$60.14/ hour
+ 523 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.