IL · Peoria · Updated October 15, 2026

Med-surg nurse jobs in Peoria, IL

Registered Nurses in the Peoria area earn a median of $40.72 per hour, about $84,690 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $35.86 and $46.04. That ranks 147th of 379 U.S. metro areas for registered nurse pay, and 111th of 335 once local prices are factored in. 3 open roles with published pay are listed for Peoria. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Peoria.

Open Med-surg nurse roles in Peoria

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Registered Nurse pay in Peoria, IL

The metro median is 2% below the Illinois statewide median of $41.54 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.00 per hour. BLS counts about 6,020 registered nurses employed in the Peoria metro area, 36.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.71).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$31.51$65,54030% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$35.86$74,59020% below U.S. median
Median$40.72$84,69010% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$46.04$95,7602% above U.S. median
Top 10%$49.73$103,44011% above U.S. median

How Peoria ranks

  • 147th of 379 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 111th of 335 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 7 Illinois metro areas

BLS does not publish a separate figure for med-surg 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 Peoria

  • Overall prices in Peoria run 9% below the U.S. average (index 91.2, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 36% below the U.S. average (index 63.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $40.72 median hour buys what $44.63 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 Peoria paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,466
  • Per year: $73,296
  • Per month: $6,108

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

Travel assignment per diem in Peoria

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$110
Meals and incidentals per day$68
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,246
13-week assignment$16,198

Travel med-surg nurse assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). 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 Peoria

CMS lists 3 hospitals in Peoria, 0 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of med-surg nurses.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Carle Health Proctor Hospital
Peoria, IL
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Carle Health Methodist Hospital
Peoria, IL
Acute careNonprofit2 of 5Yes
Saint Francis Medical Center
Peoria, 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 Peoria County

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Peoria County (1 population-group, 2 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Decatur, IL72 mi$40.44/hr68,763
Aurora, IL98 mi$46.38/hr180,710

Med-surg nurse jobs in Illinois · Med-surg nurse jobs nationwide

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.

Illinois state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide

Other healthcare roles in Peoria

Peoria city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do med-surg nurses make in Peoria, IL?

BLS reports pay for registered nurses overall, not by specialty. Registered Nurses in the Peoria metro area have a median pay of $40.72 per hour, about $84,690 a year. The middle half earn between $35.86 and $46.04 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Peoria a good place for med-surg nurses once cost of living is counted?

Peoria ranks 111th of 335 metro areas for registered nurse pay after adjusting for local prices, and 147th of 379 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring med-surg nurses in Peoria?

We list 3 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Peoria. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Peoria.

Do I need a Illinois license to work in Peoria as a med-surg 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 Peoria in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 3 active primary care shortage designations that include Peoria 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 Peoria?

The federal per diem benchmark in Peoria is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place med-surg nurses in Peoria?

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

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

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

Your RN pay reportPeoria, IL · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • OSF Healthcare SystemPeoria, IL · 149 postings$42.69/ hr$32–$62
  • 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

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

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

  1. Internal Registry RN - Psych AcutePermanent
    $60.00–$60.00/ hour
    Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Chicago, IL · posted today
  2. Registered Nurse, Patient Navigator - Full TimePermanent
    $38.80–$60.14/ hour
    Mercy · Illinois · posted today

+ 523 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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