Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $78,070 a year ($37.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,420 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,530 for the top 10%. That is 21% higher than the national median of $64,400. Pay here is 4% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $75,000. There are 2.5 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $77,430, close to the median.
Pay range for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,200 | $29.90 |
| 25th percentile | $72,860 | $35.03 |
| Median | $78,070 | $37.54 |
| 75th percentile | $81,080 | $38.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,530 | $46.41 |
| Average (mean) | $77,430 | $37.22 |
Half of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,505.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,252.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,002.69 |
| Weekly | $1,501.35 |
| Hourly | $37.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $78,070 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | $72,270 | 630 |
| Rockford, IL | $70,090 | 440 |
| Bloomington, IL | $67,270 | 170 |
| Kokomo, IN | $67,240 | 140 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $67,200 | 4,230 |
| Decatur, IL | $66,750 | 220 |
| Kankakee, IL | $65,910 | 240 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $65,860 | 310 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $65,250 | 150 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $65,240 | 610 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $65,160 | 330 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $65,120 | 5,180 |
| Evansville, IN | $64,700 | 680 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $64,460 | 2,850 |
| Muncie, IN | $64,330 | 300 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $64,180 | 6,400 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $64,130 | 300 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $64,100 | 640 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $63,640 | 1,200 |
| Bloomington, IN | $63,200 | 310 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $62,460 | 400 |
| Columbus, IN | $62,400 | 170 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $62,060 | 300 |
| Springfield, IL | $60,110 | 500 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $60,100 | 410 |
Highest-paying states for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $83,150 |
| Alaska | $80,800 |
| Oregon | $80,470 |
| Massachusetts | $80,220 |
| Rhode Island | $80,090 |
| California | $79,750 |
| New Hampshire | $77,110 |
| Arizona | $77,070 |
| Nevada | $76,160 |
| District of Columbia | $75,740 |
See Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $73,960 | $35.56 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $82,140 | $39.49 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $57,970 | $27.87 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,240 | $24.15 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,820 | $22.99 |
| Paramedic | $77,670 | $37.34 |
| Surgical Technologist | $66,360 | $31.91 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $50,010 | $24.04 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $103,080 | $49.56 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $100,730 | $48.43 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2061. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $78,070 a year, or $37.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $96,530 a year. The top 25% earn $81,080 or more.
What is the starting pay for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,200 a year, and a quarter of licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses earn $72,860 or less.
How many licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 11,420 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.