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Nurse Practitioners Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Nurse Practitioners salary really buy you in Illinois?

Illinois is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$130,680
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$129,002
COL-adjusted (RPP=101.3)

Illinois Cost of Living Index

Illinois's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.3, meaning prices are 1.3% higher the national average. A Nurse Practitioners earning $130,680 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $129,002 in an average-cost US state.

IL: 101.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $102,440 $101,125 $-1,314
25th Percentile (P25) $113,320 $111,865 $-1,454
Median (P50) $130,680 $129,002 $-1,677
75th Percentile (P75) $142,000 $140,177 $-1,822
90th Percentile (P90) $161,470 $159,397 $-2,072
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $130,680 keeps most of its value at $129,002 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Illinois Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 101.3

With an RPP of 101.3, Illinois is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Nurse Practitioners is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-1.3%

After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living, $130,680 nominal nets out to $129,003 in real purchasing power — a small 1.3% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Nurse Practitioners.

Bottom-Quartile COL-Adjusted Pay

#43 / 51

Illinois ranks #43 of 51 — bottom quartile for Nurse Practitioners real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.

Best States for Nurse Practitioners (After Cost of Living)

Where does Nurse Practitioners salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Alaska
$152,127
RPP 102.0
2. Montana
$151,949
RPP 90.3
$151,120
RPP 91.0
$150,213
RPP 88.8
$149,795
RPP 112.5
6. Iowa
$147,239
RPP 88.4
$147,138
RPP 89.8
$146,640
RPP 88.7
$146,424
RPP 108.8
$146,409
RPP 88.0

Illinois ranks #43 out of 51 states for Nurse Practitioners after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Nurse Practitioners take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Nurse Practitioners in Illinois after cost of living?

A Nurse Practitioners in Illinois earns a median salary of $130,680 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $129,002 — a -1.3% difference.

Is Illinois expensive to live in?

Illinois's cost of living is 1.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Illinois is 101.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Nurse Practitioners in Illinois: $130,680 x (100 / 101.3) = $129,002. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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