Nursing Assistants · Illinois

Nursing Assistants Salary in Illinois

Nursing Assistants in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $45,960 —8.8% above the national median of $42,260. That ranks IL #15 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$45,960
Median hourly
$22.10
Entry level (P10)
$37,590
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$54,050
90th percentile
Employment
68,640
11.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+8.8%
U.S. $42,260

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$37,590
$39,420
$45,960
$48,380
$37,590$45,960$54,050
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $45,960.

Employment is 1.21× as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for nursing assistants

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Oregon$49,830$23.9614,8000.81
2Washington$49,180$23.6530,2700.91
3New York$48,590$23.3687,9900.97
4New Hampshire$47,870$23.027,8101.23
5District of Columbia$47,700$22.933,4900.53
6California$47,630$22.90110,0600.65
7Colorado$47,380$22.7822,2400.83
8Vermont$47,130$22.663,0301.07
9Maine$47,070$22.638,5401.43
10New Jersey$46,830$22.5232,4000.81

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

OccupationIllinois medianU.S. median
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$38,060$35,800
Medical Assistants$46,090$45,690
Dental Assistants$48,610$48,070
Phlebotomists$46,010$45,230
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$37,480$38,150
Physical Therapist Assistants$65,240$68,380

Frequently asked questions

How much do nursing assistants make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for nursing assistants in Illinois is $45,960, or $22.10 per hour. That is 8.8% above the national median of $42,260.

What is the entry-level nursing assistants salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $37,590 per year ($18.07/hour). The 25th percentile is $39,420.

How many people work as nursing assistants in Illinois?

About 68,640 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 11.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for nursing assistants?

Illinois ranks #15 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.21x as concentrated as the national average, making Illinois a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays nursing assistants the most?

Oregon has the highest median wage at $49,830 per year, followed by Washington ($49,180) and New York ($48,590).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes