Registered Nurses Salary in Rockford, IL
Registered Nurses in Rockford, IL make a median of $81,560 a year, or about $39.21 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.15), which stretches that salary to about $88,508 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,175/month, or 22.8% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $82K get you in Rockford?
About registered nurses
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rockford, IL
Entry-level registered nurses (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K.Top earners bring in $106K or more - a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Registered Nurses pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $140K | +50% | 326,720 |
| Hawaii | $136K | +46% | 13,100 |
| Oregon | $124K | +32% | 39,900 |
| Washington | $112K | +20% | 64,690 |
| Alaska | $111K | +18% | 7,040 |
| New York | $106K | +13% | 204,120 |
| District of Columbia | $105K | +12% | 9,790 |
| New Jersey | $103K | +10% | 95,150 |
| Nevada | $102K | +9% | 27,570 |
| Massachusetts | $102K | +9% | 90,190 |
| Connecticut | $102K | +9% | 39,020 |
| Minnesota | $101K | +8% | 64,740 |
| Rhode Island | $100K | +7% | 10,760 |
| Arizona | $97K | +4% | 64,430 |
| Maryland | $97K | +3% | 48,980 |
Track registered nurses salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rockford numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do registered nurses make in Rockford, IL?
The median is $81,560 a year - that works out to about $39.21 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,010, and experienced registered nurses can clear $105,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Rockford?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,144/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,175/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 22.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a registered nurses salary go in Rockford?
Rockford has a Regional Price Parity of 92.15 (100 is the national average). That's below average - your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median registered nurses salary is worth about $88,508 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do registered nurses get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.