PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Registered Nurse - ICU
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Aurora, IL
$35.35–$53.38/ hour
ICU nurse jobs in Aurora, IL
Registered Nurses in the Aurora area earn a median of $46.38 per hour, about $96,480 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $39.10 and $50.35. That ranks 85th of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 104th of 335 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Aurora. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Aurora.
- $46.38median pay per hour, Chicago
- $39–$50typical range per hour
- 100,620registered nurses employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open ICU nurse roles in Aurora
For youUpdated weekly
780+ more healthcare roles for you in Aurora, IL
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
- Free
- No card
- Email only, no calls
Get the Aurora ICU nurse pay report
Named employers near Aurora, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportRegistered Nurse pay in Aurora, 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 Aurora 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 ICU 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 Aurora
- 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 Aurora 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 Aurora
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $114 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,316 |
| 13-week assignment | $17,108 |
Travel ICU 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 Aurora
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Aurora, 1 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of ICU nurses.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copley Memorial Hospital Aurora, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Presence Mercy Medical Center Aurora, 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 DuPage County
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include DuPage County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 19 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.
Registered Nurse pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet, IL | 19 mi | $46.38/hr | 151,837 |
| Elgin, IL | 19 mi | $46.38/hr | 114,701 |
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 Aurora
Aurora city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do ICU nurses make in Aurora, 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 Aurora a good place for ICU 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 ICU nurses in Aurora?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Aurora. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Aurora.
Do I need a Illinois license to work in Aurora as an ICU 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 Aurora in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active primary care shortage designation that include DuPage 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 Aurora?
The federal per diem benchmark in Aurora is $114 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,316 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place ICU nurses in Aurora?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Aurora and across Illinois. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Aurora.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Aurora pay ICU 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.
Get your free pay report
1,200+ Registered Nurse roles in Illinois, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your RN pay reportAurora, IL · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Veterans Health AdministrationMarion, IL · 9 postings$55.15/ hr$33–$72
- Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of ChicagoSkokie, IL · 2 postings$47.70/ hr$36–$59
- ScionHealthNorthlake, IL · 2 postings$47.55/ hr$36–$59
- Insight Chicago, Inc.Chicago, IL · 3 wage offers$47.00/ hr$47–$47
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.