Nursing Jobs in Chicago, Illinois

The third largest city in the United States is a destination for art lovers, food fanatics, sports enthusiasts, and yes, nursing professionals. If you’re looking for nursing jobs in Chicago, you won’t be disappointed. The Windy City has ample opportunities for you.

Quick Facts About Nursing Jobs: Chicago

• Is Illinois a compact state? No. However, nurses can be licensed by exam or endorsement.
• What do RNs earn in Chicago? The average annual salary for RN jobs in Chicago is $85,260, compared to the national average RN salary of $89,010.
• Where can I find information about RN license requirements in Illinois? You can visit the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center for up-to-date information, and also check out our article on how to renew a nursing license in Illinois.

What to Know When Pursuing Nursing Jobs in Chicago

More than 2.7 million people live in the Midwest’s biggest city. Healthcare professionals are in demand to fill Chicago nursing jobs in order to care for all those residents. That’s good news for RNs, CNAs, and LPNs, as there are many employment options available — you can pursue full-time, part-time, contract, and per diem nursing jobs in Chicago.

So, who will you be caring for? In Chicago, the median age is 33; people ages 65 and over make up around 13% of the population. There are slightly more women than men, and around 28% are married with children. Wondering who can look after your kids and pets while you’re busy working a shift? Chicago offers a number of early learning and child care programs. It also has the honor of being named the best city in the U.S. for dog lovers, so you can bet there are ample dog-walkers and pet-sitting services.

Cultural competency needs to be in your skill set before you apply to nursing jobs — Chicago has a diverse population. Just over 30% of residents are Black; 29% are of Hispanic ethnicity; and around 6% are Asian. Bilingual nursing professionals will be sought after by employers, as these types of jobs require frequent interactions with patients who may not speak English.

Working in Chicago

The typical commute for Chicagoans takes around 35 minutes, and nearly half the city’s job force drives solo to work. The city is home to the second largest public transportation system in the U.S., and has more major railroads than any other location in the country.

In terms of leading industries in Chicago, trade, transportation, and utilities; professional and business services; and education and health services are standouts. The largest employers in the city are:

• Amazon
• Accenture
• IBM
• Walgreens
• Boeing

The Chicago metropolitan area has the country’s third highest employment level of healthcare practitioners and technical occupations, which generates many nursing jobs in Chicago. In fact, the area is also the third largest in the country for professionals employed in RN jobs. Chicago hospitals and community care facilities are other big employers of nursing professionals. The largest hospitals in Chicago are:

• Northwestern Memorial Lurie Children’s
• University of Chicago Medical Center
• Advocate Christ Hospital and Medical Center
• Rush University Medical Center
• Palos Community Hospital

In addition to private hospitals offering nursing jobs in Chicago, Cook County operates its own health and hospital system. There are also numerous mental health and community care centers that serve the Chicago community.

Living in Chicago

There’s plenty to keep you occupied in your non-working-hours in Chicago. Let’s start with the basics: food. While the city is arguably best known for deep-dish pizza and hot dogs, you can dine at more than 7,300 restaurants, which helped Chicago earn its reputation as one of the top food cities in the country.

Art and history buffs can explore 59 historic districts, hundreds of landmarks, and more than 60 museums, as well as many masterpieces by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who designed numerous structures in the area. Is live music more your thing? Take your pick from 250 venues and 70 festivals, but don’t sleep on the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, one of the oldest in the country.

Although Chicago is very much an urban environment, its motto, urbs in horto, means “city in a garden.” That’s because the Chicago Park District boasts more than 8,800 acres of green space and over 600 parks, not to mention 28 miles of lakefront and 23 swimming beaches.

If you’re looking to get out of town for a bit, you’ll have company. O’Hare International Airport is among the busiest in the world, so you won’t have any trouble finding flights to just about anywhere. You can also hop on Amtrak for trips to beach towns along Lake Michigan, theme parks and other family-friendly spots in Wisconsin Dells, and historic sights in Springfield.

The weather in Chicago is hot, wet, and humid during the summer and bitterly cold during the winter. The hottest month is July, with an average high of 83; the coldest month is January, with an average low of 22.

Thanks to its attractions and status, Chicago has a cost of living that’s around 20% higher than the rest of the country. The average price of a home is around $564,000, and rents go for around $2,900 per month.

Find Great Nursing Jobs in Chicago on IntelyCare

Ready to find RN, LPN, and CNA jobs? We can help. Start your IntelyCare application today, and build a flexible schedule that works for you.