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Certified nursing assistant salary in Illinois

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$45,960median pay per year in Illinois, or $22.10 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $37,590lowest 10% earn less
  2. $39,42025th percentile
  3. $45,960median
  4. $48,38075th percentile
  5. $54,050top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $42,260[3]

The median pay for nursing assistants in Illinois was $45,960 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $3,700 above the US median[6].

Jobs in IL
68,640[4]
Rank by median pay
15 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+8.8%[6]

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Illinois?

Half of the nursing assistants in Illinois earned more than $45,960 a year and half earned less[1]. That works out to $22.10 an hour[1]. Across the US, the median was $42,260, so Illinois paid more than the national figure[3][6]. Illinois ranked 15th among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. The median for all jobs in Illinois was $51,960, so this job paid $6,000 less[7][8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,590[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $54,050[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $39,420 and $48,380[2].

Among Illinois metro areas, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin had the highest median at $46,940 and 45,850 jobs[9][10]. Bloomington had a median of $43,180 and Peoria had $43,040[10]. St. Louis had a median of $39,110[10].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers, part time and full time. It leaves out the self-employed and business owners. Bonuses outside regular production pay and the cost of benefits are also not in the wage figures[11].

Illinois vs US pay

Pay for certified nursing assistants in Illinois next to the national figures[1][3].

ILUS
Median per year$45,960[1]$42,260[3]
Median per hour$22.10[1]$20.32[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$37,590[2]$33,940[12]
Top 10% earn more than$54,050[2]$51,980[12]
Jobs68,640[4]1,448,910[3]

Pay by metro area in Illinois

Metro areas in Illinois with the most jobs for certified nursing assistants, and the median pay in each[10]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN[10]$46,94045,850
St. Louis, MO-IL$39,11014,620
Peoria, IL$43,0402,740
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$38,7402,220
Rockford, IL$40,1402,120
Champaign-Urbana, IL$39,8901,560
Springfield, IL$40,0701,120
Bloomington, IL$43,180950

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for certified nursing assistants in the states that border Illinois, highest first[13].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Wisconsin[13]$45,13028,370
Iowa$39,35022,670
Kentucky$38,37023,410
Indiana$38,33033,640
Missouri$37,68034,050

Median pay for certified nursing assistants in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for certified nursing assistants are projected to grow 2.6% from 2025 to 2035[14]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: postsecondary nondegree award[15].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a certified nursing assistant make in Illinois?
The median was $45,960 a year in May 2025[1].
How much does a certified nursing assistant make an hour in Illinois?
The median hourly wage was $22.10[1].
Which city in Illinois pays certified nursing assistants the most?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin had the highest median of the 12 Illinois metro areas with a published figure, at $46,940[9].
Is Illinois a good state for certified nursing assistants?
Illinois had the 15th highest median annual wage out of 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $3,700 higher than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a certified nursing assistant in Illinois?
This is a US figure, not an Illinois one. Across the US, the typical entry education is a postsecondary nondegree award, with no related work experience or on-the-job training[15].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Nursing Assistants in Illinois was $45,960 per year and $22.10 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Nursing Assistants in Illinois: 10th percentile $37,590, 25th percentile $39,420, 75th percentile $48,380, 90th percentile $54,050. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Nursing Assistants in the US as a whole was $42,260 per year and $20.32 per hour, with about 1,448,910 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 68,640 people worked as Nursing Assistants in Illinois (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Illinois had the 15th highest median annual wage for Nursing Assistants out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Illinois ($45,960) was $3,700 (8.8%) higher than the US median ($42,260). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Illinois was $51,960. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Nursing Assistants in Illinois was $6,000 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($51,960). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 12 metro areas in or partly in Illinois with a published median for Nursing Assistants, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had the highest median annual wage, $46,940. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Nursing Assistants in the US: 10th percentile $33,940, 25th percentile $37,260, 75th percentile $47,220, 90th percentile $51,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Nursing Assistants in states that border Illinois (highest first): Wisconsin $45,130; Iowa $39,350; Kentucky $38,370; Indiana $38,330; Missouri $37,680. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Nursing Assistants is projected to grow 2.6% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 196,200 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Nursing Assistants: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections

State figures cover only Illinois. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.