IL · Chicago · Updated October 15, 2026

Rehabilitation nurse jobs in Chicago, IL

Registered Nurses in the Chicago 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. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Chicago. The free report below lists employers near Chicago and what they pay.

Open Rehabilitation nurse roles in Chicago

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Registered 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).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$34.65$72,07023% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$39.10$81,33013% below U.S. median
Median$46.38$96,4803% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$50.35$104,73012% above U.S. median
Top 10%$56.77$118,08026% 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 rehabilitation 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

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 rehabilitation 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 rehabilitation nurses.

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.

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 Chicago

Chicago city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do rehabilitation 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 rehabilitation 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 rehabilitation 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 a rehabilitation 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 rehabilitation 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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Pay report · RN near Chicago, IL
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

  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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