Job growth rates for advanced nurses in Illinois are projected to exceed the overall average national job growth rate of 7% by as much as 5.5-fold between 2016 and 2026, according to the state’s Department of Employment Security:
- Nurse Educators – 15.2%
- Nurse Practitioners – 38.3%
- Nurse-Midwives – 15.2%
- Nurse Anesthetists – 16.6%
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The projected demand for RNs will exceed supply, according to a 2018 workforce survey by the Illinois Center for Nursing, largely due to a swiftly aging workforce. The report found that:
- 52% of the RN workforce in Illinois is in the upper age ranges
- 34% is between the ages of 55 and 64
- 27% plan to retire in one to five years
This is good news for a state that’s been burdened by a lack of primary care physicians in recent years and is expected to struggle with the same problem in the coming years. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the supply of primary care physicians in Illinois is projected to be 9,620 by 2025, while the demand is projected to be 10,020, thereby revealing a deficit of 400 primary care physicians.
Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), many of whom hold a DNP, are qualified to provide primary care services to the citizens of Illinois, thereby helping combat the lack of primary care physicians.
In addition to being as a source of outstanding professional opportunities, including specialty APRN, leadership, and executive positions, a DNP offers the assurance of high salaries. According to a 2018 survey by the Advance Healthcare Network, NPs with a DNP earned, on average, 7% more than their peers with an MSN as their highest degree.
Statewide Salary Data for DNP-Educated APRNs and More in Illinois
DNP-educated nurses in all their various roles are consistently recognized for earning top salaries (Illinois Department of Employment Security, 2018):
- Nurse Anesthetists – $207,950+
- Nurse Administrators – $136,860-$205,890
- Nurse-Midwives – $118,830-$130,270
- Nurse Practitioners – $121,140-$133,710
- Nurse Educators – $ 88,660-$113,090
Salaries for DNP Nurses in the Major Cities of Illinois
The Illinois Department of Employment Security provides salary information for DNP-educated advanced nursing professionals in the most populated cities in the state (2018):
Nurse Anesthetists:
- Chicago: $201,490+
Nurse Administrators and Executives:
- Chicago: $143,700+
- Springfield: $137,850+
- Rockford: $119,190-$155,420
- Peoria: $123,050-$166,670
Nurse Practitioners:
- Chicago: $122,350-$136,800
- Springfield: $122,380-$130,990
- Rockford: $119,120-$135,910
- Peoria: $110,120-$126,270
Nurse-Midwives:
- Chicago: $118,640-$128,580
Nurse Educators:
- Chicago: $92,930-$116,210
An Overview of Hourly Wages for Illinois’ DNP-Educated Nurses
A 2019 Medscape Compensation Report found that 78% of APRNs are paid overtime for their work, which means these professionals are paid hourly. It is often helpful to view hourly wages for DNP nurses because overtime for these professionals can account for a significant part of their annual income.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security provides hourly wages for DPN-educated nursing professionals, as of 2018:
- Nurse Anesthetists: $99.97+
- Nurse Midwives: $57.13-$62.63
- Nurse Practitioners: $58.24-$64.28
- Nurse Administrators and Executives: $65.80-$98.99
Salary and employment data compiled by the Illinois Department of Employment Security in May of 2018 – (http://www.ides.illinois.gov/LMI/Pages/Employment_Projections.aspx). Salary data represents state and MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) average and median earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
All salary and job growth data accessed in December 2019.
This page includes salaries that fall within the 75th and 90th percentiles for each nursing role to account for the fact that DNP-educated nurses are recognized as earning more than master’s-prepared nurses in the same roles.