Registered Nurses Employment & Job Outlook in Illinois (2024)

Illinois employs 139,910 Registered Nurses professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • Illinois employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
139,910
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
139.91
workers
Location Quotient
2.25
vs national avg
Average Salary
$87K
annual

High Demand in Illinois

The location quotient (LQ) of 2.25 indicates that Illinois has a higher-than-average concentration of Registered Nurses professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

Illinois vs National Average

Total Employed
139,910
National: 3,175,440
4.4% of national
Jobs per 1,000
139.91
National: 62.26
+124.7%
Average Salary
$87K
National: $89K
-2.2%

Top States by Registered Nurses Employment

#1
332,560
332,560
employed
#2
251,840
251,840
employed
#3
207,910
207,910
employed
#4
188,060
188,060
employed
#5
144,100
144,100
employed
#6
139,910
139,910
employed
#7
133,300
133,300
employed
#8
104,380
104,380
employed
#9
102,240
102,240
employed
#10
93,730
93,730
employed

What Does a Registered Nurses Earn in Illinois?

The average annual salary for a Registered Nurses in Illinois is $87,650. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Registered Nurses jobs are there in Illinois?

Illinois employs approximately 139,910 Registered Nurses professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks Illinois among the top states nationwide.

Is Registered Nurses in demand in Illinois?

Yes — Illinois has above-average concentration of Registered Nurses jobs (LQ: 2.25). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Registered Nurses in Illinois?

The average (mean) salary for Registered Nurses in Illinois is $87650/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Registered Nurses professionals?

The top state for Registered Nurses employment is California with 332,560 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Registered Nurses (SOC 291141) in Illinois.

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