Certified Nursing Assistant Salary in Illinois: $48,821 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Illinois's 65 metropolitan areas, the average median certified nursing assistant pay sits at $48,821/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-1131. Because Illinois sits at BEA RPP 97.1 (3% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $50,279 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Naperville ($47,430), Chicago ($46,940), Elgin ($46,521).

Certified Nursing Assistant Salary in Illinois - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — Illinois certified nursing assistant salary overview (2026)

$48,821

Avg Median Salary

$23.47

Avg Hourly Rate

56,411

Metro Employed

Cities

The projected average median salary for certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in Illinois in 2026 is $48,821, which is an 8.5% increase compared to the national median of $45,007. Salaries vary significantly across the state, with Naperville offering the highest pay at $50,513 and Kankakee the lowest at $40,364, creating a salary gap of $10,149. Factors driving this difference include local cost of living, demand for healthcare services, and the availability of specialized roles in urban versus rural areas. In Illinois, state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws play a crucial role in shaping the job market. CNAs must complete state-approved training programs and pass competency exams, ensuring a well-prepared workforce. The demand for CNAs continues to grow, with a projected annual compound growth rate (CAGR) of 6.50%, driven by an aging population and an increasing focus on patient care. With a total of 56,411 CNAs expected to be employed in Illinois, key cities like Chicago ($49,991), Elgin ($49,545), Bloomington ($45,987), and Peoria ($45,838) reflect varied opportunities. The ongoing expansion of healthcare services signals a strong outlook for job stability in this field.

Illinois Certified Nursing Assistant Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$41,073

avg across 65 cities

Median

$48,821

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$56,959

avg across 65 cities

Overall salary range in Illinois: $32,812 (lowest entry-level) to $65,695 (highest top earner)

Illinois vs National Average

Illinois

$48,821

National Median

$45,007

Illinois certified nursing assistants earn 8.47% more than the national median (+$3,814/year difference).

Illinois Certified Nursing Assistant Salary Distribution (2026)

Certified Nursing Assistant salaries in Illinois range from $41,073 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $56,959 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $48,821. The Illinois median is $3,814 above the US national median of $45,007. The average hourly rate is $23.47/hr. Approximately 56,411 certified nursing assistants are employed across 65 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$29,414

2025 BLS Actual

$45,841

2026 Current Est.

$48,821

2019–2027 Growth

+76.8%

Salary Trajectory for Certified Nursing Assistants in Illinois (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 6.50% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$29,414	Actual
2020	$30,792	Actual
2021	$34,600	Actual
2022	$36,956	Actual
2023	$40,762	Actual
2024	$44,855	Actual
2025	$45,841	Actual
2026(current)	$48,821	Estimated
2027	$51,995	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Illinois metropolitan area, the median certified nursing assistant salary grew 55.8% from $29,414 (2019) to $45,841 (2025). At a 6.50% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $51,995 by 2027 — a total increase of $22,581 (76.77%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Illinois metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 6.50% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Illinois

Naperville

23 employed · $24.28/hr

$50,513

+3.47% vs avg

Chicago

45,850 employed · $24.04/hr

$49,991

+2.40% vs avg

Elgin

16 employed · $23.82/hr

$49,545

+1.48% vs avg

Bloomington

950 employed · $22.11/hr

$45,987

-5.80% vs avg

Peoria

2,740 employed · $22.03/hr

$45,838

-6.11% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Illinois

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Kankakee	$40,364	-17.32%	$19.40
Carbondale	$40,964	-16.09%	$19.69
Rock Island	$41,339	-15.33%	$19.87
Elmhurst	$41,372	-15.26%	$19.89
Calumet City	$41,473	-15.05%	$19.94

Best Value Cities for Certified Nursing Assistants in Illinois

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Illinois cities offer the most purchasing power for certified nursing assistants.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Naperville	$50,513	97.1	$52,022
Elgin	$49,545	97.1	$51,025
Decatur	$44,719	88.422	$50,575
Peoria	$45,838	91.231	$50,244
Bloomington	$45,987	93.537	$49,165

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Illinois

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$41,073	$19.75	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$48,821	$23.47	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$56,959	$27.38	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Illinois metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 65 Cities in Illinois

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Naperville	$50,513	$24.28	$38,749	$65,695	23
2	Chicago	$49,991	$24.04	$41,514	$57,989	45,850
3	Elgin	$49,545	$23.82	$40,239	$62,608	16
4	Bloomington	$45,987	$22.11	$39,810	$54,816	950
5	Peoria	$45,838	$22.03	$39,522	$52,142	2,740
6	Decatur	$44,719	$21.50	$38,755	$54,624	600
7	Orland Park	$44,344	$21.32	$35,719	$53,441	9
8	Bolingbrook	$44,154	$21.23	$33,785	$52,822	19
9	Palatine	$43,822	$21.07	$34,272	$53,350	16
10	Waukegan	$43,797	$21.06	$34,392	$56,053	18
11	Mount Prospect	$43,714	$21.01	$34,193	$52,891	13
12	Hoffman Estates	$43,572	$20.95	$33,853	$52,545	8
13	Evanston	$43,489	$20.91	$33,655	$54,928	16
14	Joliet	$43,452	$20.90	$34,963	$54,256	25
15	Oak Park	$43,417	$20.87	$33,483	$52,044	10
16	Danville	$43,326	$20.83	$35,772	$50,298	5
17	Addison	$43,235	$20.79	$35,543	$51,647	6
18	Berwyn	$43,216	$20.78	$33,006	$51,402	12
19	Aurora	$43,188	$20.77	$34,344	$53,398	44
20	Tinley Park	$43,180	$20.76	$36,201	$54,035	8
21	Northbrook	$43,137	$20.74	$35,252	$51,229	8
22	St. Charles	$43,109	$20.72	$35,229	$49,617	7
23	Gurnee	$43,099	$20.72	$35,205	$49,693	8
24	Arlington Heights	$43,039	$20.69	$36,033	$53,575	18
25	Wheaton	$42,983	$20.66	$35,899	$53,396	14
26	Woodridge	$42,971	$20.66	$34,838	$49,185	9
27	Schaumburg	$42,948	$20.65	$35,771	$54,734	13
28	Buffalo Grove	$42,937	$20.64	$37,003	$53,244	7
29	Bartlett	$42,933	$20.64	$34,790	$49,175	9
30	Lake in the Hills	$42,774	$20.57	$34,351	$52,723	6
31	Collinsville	$42,766	$20.57	$34,379	$50,171	5
32	Skokie	$42,754	$20.55	$35,303	$52,524	12
33	Rockford	$42,749	$20.55	$39,874	$51,983	2,120
34	Wheeling	$42,692	$20.52	$36,387	$52,463	6
35	Springfield	$42,675	$20.52	$40,523	$51,290	1,120
36	Carpentersville	$42,645	$20.50	$36,312	$52,418	8
37	Oak Lawn	$42,616	$20.49	$34,839	$52,217	14
38	O'Fallon	$42,607	$20.48	$33,987	$52,195	6
39	Champaign	$42,483	$20.43	$40,278	$51,961	1,560
40	Quincy	$42,441	$20.41	$33,581	$51,773	6
41	Algonquin	$42,441	$20.41	$33,401	$51,773	5
42	Carol Stream	$42,404	$20.38	$33,489	$51,656	10
43	Normal	$42,402	$20.38	$33,264	$51,534	8
44	Lombard	$42,376	$20.37	$33,423	$51,569	8
45	Cicero	$42,333	$20.35	$34,337	$51,314	21
46	Urbana	$42,328	$20.35	$36,697	$51,300	6
47	Plainfield	$42,288	$20.33	$36,517	$51,290	11
48	Des Plaines	$42,281	$20.33	$34,213	$51,150	12
49	Oswego	$42,119	$20.25	$36,093	$50,759	7
50	DeKalb	$42,085	$20.23	$36,186	$52,141	9
51	Park Ridge	$42,050	$20.21	$36,100	$50,546	7
52	Hanover Park	$42,033	$20.21	$36,059	$51,981	6
53	Glenview	$42,030	$20.20	$36,050	$51,970	12
54	Moline	$41,989	$20.18	$34,242	$48,555	10
55	Romeoville	$41,861	$20.13	$35,629	$49,954	7
56	Streamwood	$41,802	$20.10	$35,485	$51,150	8
57	Downers Grove	$41,725	$20.06	$35,292	$51,009	11
58	Belleville	$41,715	$20.05	$35,267	$49,398	10
59	Crystal Lake	$41,647	$20.02	$35,100	$50,765	9
60	Galesburg	$41,487	$19.95	$34,708	$50,268	4
61	Calumet City	$41,473	$19.94	$34,675	$48,655	7
62	Elmhurst	$41,372	$19.89	$34,426	$48,446	9
63	Rock Island	$41,339	$19.87	$32,812	$47,901	5
64	Carbondale	$40,964	$19.69	$36,608	$48,019	5
65	Kankakee	$40,364	$19.40	$34,879	$52,994	860

More Illinois Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore certified nursing assistant hourly pay in Illinois cities.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new certified nursing assistants.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced certified nursing assistants.

Naperville →Chicago →Elgin →

Compare Cities in Illinois

Chicago, ILvsPeoria, IL Chicago, ILvsRockford, IL Chicago, ILvsChampaign, IL Chicago, ILvsSpringfield, IL Chicago, ILvsBloomington, IL Chicago, ILvsKankakee, IL

View all comparisons →

Explore More Certified Nursing Assistant Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do certified nursing assistants make in Illinois in 2026?

The average median certified nursing assistant salary in Illinois is $48,821/year across 65 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $40,364 in Kankakee to $50,513 in Naperville. This makes Illinois one of the higher-paying states, at 8.47% above the national median of $45,007. The state employs approximately 56,411 certified nursing assistants.

What is the highest paying city for certified nursing assistants in Illinois?

Naperville offers the highest certified nursing assistant salary in Illinois at $50,513/year ($24.28/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Naperville ($50,513), Chicago ($49,991), Elgin ($49,545). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for nursing services, and competition among employers for licensed certified nursing assistants.

How does Illinois certified nursing assistant pay compare to the national average?

Illinois's average certified nursing assistant salary of $48,821 is 8.47% above the national median of $45,007 in 2026. The state employs approximately 56,411 certified nursing assistants across 65 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level certified nursing assistant salary in Illinois?

Entry-level certified nursing assistants (10th percentile) in Illinois earn approximately $41,073/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $32,812 in lower-paying areas to $41,514 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many certified nursing assistants are employed in Illinois?

Illinois employs approximately 56,411 certified nursing assistants across 65 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Illinois one of the larger employers of certified nursing assistants nationally. Demand continues to grow as the nursing field expands and the population ages.

Which Illinois city offers the best value for certified nursing assistants?

When adjusted for cost of living, Naperville offers the highest purchasing power for certified nursing assistants in Illinois, with an adjusted salary of $52,022 (nominal: $50,513, CoL index: 97.1). This means your dollar goes 3% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

Written by Emily Chen, BSN, RN

Career Analyst

Emily has over 10 years of experience in nursing. She focuses on workforce trends in nursing. Emily has worked in various healthcare settings, including hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Clinically reviewed by Michael Rodriguez, CNAData verified by Sara Patel, RN

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 6.50% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 certified nursing assistant compensation across Illinois. State averages are employment-weighted across 65 metro areas — larger metro areas with more certified nursing assistantscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.50%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for certified nursing assistants (SOC 31-1131).

Compiled and verified by Emily Chen, BSN, RN, a licensed certified nursing assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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