Registered Nurse Salary in Des Plaines, IL: $86,762 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time registered nurse in Des Plaines, IL earns a median $86,762/year (≈ $41.71/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1141). Once you factor in Des Plaines's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $89,353 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.3% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Des Plaines, Illinois, registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $86,762, reflecting the challenges and opportunities within a competitive healthcare landscape. The salary range extends from $61,843 at the 10th percentile to $120,510 at the 90th percentile, indicating significant variability based on experience, specialization, and the work environment. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS estimates projected to 2026, reveal disparities when compared to the national median registered nurse salary of $102,730, illustrating how local market conditions can impact compensation. While travel nursing rates have surged during and post-pandemic, many staff nurses in Des Plaines face a structural divide in pay, particularly when comparing their salaries to traveling counterparts.
About the Des Plaines Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($85,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $61,843 | $29.73 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $69,293 | $33.31 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $86,762 | $41.71 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $99,255 | $47.72 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $120,510 | $57.94 |
Median Salary Position
15.54% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Des Plaines
In Des Plaines, IL, the registered nurse salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $58,667 (2026 est.). At $86,762, the local median is 15.54% below the national median of $102,730.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Des Plaines: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Des Plaines Registered Nurse Pay Compares
Des Plaines median: $86,762/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Des Plaines Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $89,723 | -3.30% less |
| National Average | $102,730 | -15.54% less |
Registered Nurses in Des Plaines, IL earn a median of $86,762 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.54% lower than the national median of $102,730 and 3.30% below the Illinois state average of $89,723.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Des Plaines has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Des Plaines, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A registered nurse earning $86,762 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $89,353 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$61,906
2025 BLS Actual
$82,387
2026 Current Est.
$86,762
2019–2027 Growth
+47.6%
Salary Trajectory for Registered Nurses in Des Plaines (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.31% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $61,906 | Actual |
| 2020 | $63,621 | Actual |
| 2021 | $65,538 | Actual |
| 2022 | $68,595 | Actual |
| 2023 | $72,691 | Actual |
| 2024 | $79,791 | Actual |
| 2025 | $82,387 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $86,762 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $91,369 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Des Plaines metropolitan area, the median registered nurse salary grew 33.1% from $61,906 (2019) to $82,387 (2025). At a 5.31% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $91,369 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,463 (47.59%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Des Plaines 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 5.31% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $61,843 – $69,293 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $69,293 – $86,762 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $86,762 – $99,255 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $99,255 – $120,510 |
RN salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual registered nurse compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Des Plaines
The job market in Des Plaines supports a small cohort of 12 registered nurses currently employed, contributing to an environment where understanding salary dynamics is crucial. With a cost-of-living index at 97.1, take-home purchasing power is somewhat advantageous for local nurses when compared to national averages. The highest pay opportunities in Des Plaines are often found in hospital systems, especially those offering acute care and intensive care services. Factors contributing to salary variations include shift differentials (nights, typically adding $3 to $7 per hour), specialty certifications, charge nurse roles, and the status of the employing institution. To maximize registered nurse pay in Des Plaines, focusing on acquiring specialty certifications and considering shifts that command higher pay can be beneficial, especially in increasingly competitive sectors like home health and hospice care.
More salary data for Des Plaines, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN
Career Analyst
Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as a registered nurse. Their specialty is pediatric nursing in a community hospital. They analyze nursing workforce trends and salary data.
Methodology & Data Source
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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $82,387 for registered nursesin the Des Plaines metropolitan area. A 5.31% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Des Plaines is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.31%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for registered nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, RN, BSN, a licensed registered nurse with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov