Certified Nursing Assistant salary in Illinois
Certified Nursing Assistants in Illinois earn a median of $21.52 per hour, about $44,750 a year, 13% above the U.S. median of $19.01. The middle half earn between $18.52 and $23.13 per hour. The highest median among Illinois metro areas is in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, at $22.14 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $21.52median pay per hour
- $44,750median pay per year
- 64,660employed in Illinois
- #14of 50 states by median pay
Certified Nursing Assistant pay in Illinois: percentiles
| Level | Illinois per hour | Illinois per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.44 | $36,280 | $15.09 |
| Lower quartile | $18.52 | $38,520 | $17.44 |
| Median | $21.52 | $44,750 | $19.01 |
| Upper quartile | $23.13 | $48,110 | $22.15 |
| Top 10% | $24.42 | $50,790 | $24.11 |
Certified Nursing Assistant pay by metro area in Illinois
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs Illinois median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $22.14 | $46,050 | 42,800 | 3% above | $21.37 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $21.02 | $43,720 | 1,480 | 2% below | $22.67 |
| Springfield, IL | $19.75 | $41,080 | 1,250 | 8% below | $21.29 |
| Decatur, IL | $19.62 | $40,800 | 550 | 9% below | $22.19 |
| Bloomington, IL | $19.12 | $39,770 | 850 | 11% below | $20.44 |
| Peoria, IL | $19.07 | $39,660 | 3,320 | 11% below | $20.90 |
| Rockford, IL | $18.73 | $38,960 | 1,790 | 13% below | $20.32 |
| Kankakee, IL | $17.96 | $37,350 | 680 | 17% below | — |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Certified Nursing Assistant pay in states next to Illinois
What employers are posting in Illinois
- 117roles with published pay
- $20.75median pay per hour
- $18–$27typical published range
- 11employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Cross Hospital | 34 | $20.75 |
| OSF Healthcare System | 26 | $20.66 |
| Central Maine Healthcare Corporation | 16 | $22.34 |
| Fresenius Medical Care | 15 | $22 |
| Mercy | 9 | $21.52 |
| Hospital Sisters Health System | 7 | $21 |
| ScionHealth | 5 | $22.38 |
| AccentCare | 2 | $22.50 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 117 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Illinois · Certified Nursing Assistant salary nationwide · Illinois state guide
Common questions
How much does a certified nursing assistant make in Illinois?
The median is $21.52 per hour, about $44,750 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $17.44 and the top 10% earn over $24.42 (BLS, May 2024).
Which Illinois city pays certified nursing assistants the most?
Among Illinois metro areas, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN has the highest median at $22.14 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does Illinois rank for certified nursing assistant pay?
Illinois ranks 14th of 50 states by median certified nursing assistant pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
What do employers near you pay certified nursing assistants? Get the report.
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- 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.
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Your CNA pay reportIllinois · 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
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
- Patient Care Technician - PCTPermanent$18.00–$27.00/ hour
- Patient Care Assistant (CNA) Medical SurgicalPermanent$18.00–$26.88/ hour
+ 115 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.