Licensed Practical Nurse.
Chicago.
$55,000
median salary, 8% above the national average
$45,000 to $66,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
A Licensed Practical Nurse in Chicago earns a median of $55,000 in 2026. That is 8% above the national average. The range runs from $45,000 to $66,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Work setting creates the widest pay gap, with skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies paying above physician offices.
Salary range
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How Chicago compares
Chicago, IL
$55,000
Cost of living: 7% above average
National Average
$51,000
Chicago is $4,000 above
What you should know
The Licensed Practical Nurse landscape in Chicago is not what most salary sites will tell you. Chicago's economy is anchored by finance, manufacturing, and a rapidly expanding tech sector. The city has become a major hub for fintech, enterprise SaaS, and e-commerce. With lower living costs than coastal cities and a deep talent pool from top universities, Chicago offers strong salary to cost of living ratios for professionals across industries. Work setting creates the widest pay gap, with skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies paying above physician offices. States with nurse licensure compacts offer more flexibility and often higher pay for travel assignments. Shift differentials for evenings and weekends and IV therapy certification also contribute to higher earnings.
New LPNs start at $40,000 to $45,000 in most settings. With five years of experience and specialty skills, pay reaches $52,000 to $60,000. Charge LPNs or unit supervisors can earn $62,000 to $72,000, and many LPNs use the role as a bridge to RN licensure. In Chicago, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. LPNs receive standard healthcare benefits including medical, dental, and retirement contributions. Overtime is common and can add $5,000 to $10,000 annually. Some employers offer sign-on bonuses of $2,000 to $5,000 in high-demand areas. And on the tax side: illinois has a flat 4.95% state income tax. Chicago does not levy a separate city income tax, making the overall burden moderate compared to coastal metros. When someone quotes you $55,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference the Bay Area or NYC salary band for your role, then negotiate a modest discount. Chicago employers routinely offer 85 to 90% of coastal pay. The range for Licensed Practical Nurses in Chicago runs from $45,000 to $66,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in Chicago
Negotiating in Chicago
Reference the Bay Area or NYC salary band for your role, then negotiate a modest discount. Chicago employers routinely offer 85 to 90% of coastal pay.