Among the 13 metropolitan areas located entirely or partially in Illinois, 10 areas had annual mean wages that were significantly below the national average for registered nurses, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Nine areas had below-average wages for nursing assistants. Three areas had below-average wages for both nurse practitioners and licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Charlene Peiffer noted that five areas had above-average wages for at least one of the selected occupations: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Bloomington, Danville, Kankakee, and Rockford. Nationwide, the average (mean) wage for registered nurses was $72,180; for nursing assistants, $27,650; for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, $44,840; and for nurse practitioners, $104,610. (See table A. For comprehensive definitions of metropolitan areas in Illinois, please see Technical Note.).

Table A. Average (mean) annual wages for selected nursing occupations in the United States, Illinois, and metropolitan areas in Illinois, May 2016

Area	Registered Nurses	Nursing Assistants	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	Nurse Practitioners
United States	$72,180	$27,650	$44,840	$104,610
Illinois	70,890*	26,830*	48,070*	98,300*
Bloomington	59,960*	25,080*	46,820*	100,050
Cape Girardeau	56,430*	25,140*	36,720*	100,780
Carbondale-Marion	63,700*	26,000*	37,610*	97,270
Champaign-Urbana	64,790*	26,760*	41,020*	94,090*
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	74,590*	27,520	51,420*	101,480
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights	75,630*	27,760	52,880*	101,930
Elgin	70,760	25,890*	51,010*	91,960*
Lake County-Kenosha County	74,520	28,830*	49,890*	88,270*
Danville	(1)	34,610*	(1)	(1)
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	53,280*	26,360*	42,230*	92,560*
Decatur	54,390*	23,380*	46,330	(1)
Kankakee	69,160	27,590	49,710*	97,630*
Peoria	60,870*	24,660*	44,030	94,900*
Rockford	63,300*	27,730	48,680*	92,420*
St. Louis	62,760*	25,650*	42,670*	92,160*
Springfield	63,340*	26,410*	42,080*	102,480
Footnotes: (1) Data not available.
Note: An asterisk indicates that the mean annual wage for this area is significantly different from the national average of all areas at the 90-percent confidence level.

The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area had a combined employment of 145,480 in the four selected nursing occupations, the largest among the 13 metropolitan areas located entirely or partially in the state. Eighty percent (115,840) of those jobs were located in one of the area’s three divisions, Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights. Another division, Lake County-Kenosha County, had 10,570 jobs in the selected nursing occupations. With the exception of St. Louis (60,530), combined employment in Illinois for the four nursing occupations was less than 8,000 in the remaining metropolitan areas for which data were available. (See table B. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area’s other division, Gary, contains no counties in Illinois, and the data have not been presented in this release.)

Table B. Employment of selected nursing occupations in the United States, Illinois, and metropolitan areas in Illinois, May 2016

Area	Registered Nurses	Nursing Assistants	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses	Nurse Practitioners
United States	2,857,180	1,443,150	702,400	150,230
Illinois	121,670	60,090	20,140	4,030
Bloomington	1,420	590	150	60
Cape Girardeau	1,570	730	330	80
Carbondale-Marion	1,740	920	390	40
Champaign-Urbana	2,210	1,100	430	190
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	91,230	38,580	12,790	2,880
Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights	73,820	30,150	9,940	1,930
Elgin	4,530	2,210	520	180
Lake County-Kenosha County	6,270	3,200	870	230
Danville	(1)	210	(1)	(1)
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	3,580	2,180	640	160
Decatur	1,430	850	370	(1)
Kankakee	1,380	1,210	250	60
Peoria	4,620	2,250	830	200
Rockford	3,690	2,240	580	200
St. Louis	33,660	18,540	6,310	2,020
Springfield	3,380	1,400	680	160
Footnotes: (1) Data not available.

Wages for registered nurses in metropolitan areas in Illinois

Registered nurses in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metropolitan area earned $74,590 per year, significantly above the U.S. average of $72,180. Wages were significantly below the national average for this occupation in 10 of the 13 metropolitan areas in Illinois, with wages ranging from $64,790 in Champaign-Urbana to $53,280 in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island.

Wages for nursing assistants in metropolitan areas in Illinois

One metropolitan area, Danville ($34,610), had wages for nursing assistants that were significantly higher than the U.S. average of $27,650. Nine metropolitan areas had annual mean wages for nursing assistants that were significantly lower than the national average, ranging from $26,760 in Champaign-Urbana to $23,380 in Decatur. Three areas had wages that were not measurably different from the U.S. average.

Wages for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in metropolitan areas in Illinois

Four metropolitan areas had wages for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses that were significantly higher than the U.S. average of $44,840, ranging from $51,420 in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin to $46,820 in Bloomington. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in six metropolitan areas had mean annual wages significantly below the national average, ranging from $42,670 in St. Louis to $36,720 in Cape-Girardeau. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses in the remaining areas where data were available earned wages that were not measurably different from the national average for this occupation.

Wages for nurse practitioners in metropolitan areas in Illinois

Six metropolitan areas had average wages for nurse practitioners that were significantly lower than the $104,610 national average. Wages in these areas ranged from $97,630 in Kankakee to $92,160 in St. Louis. Nurse practitioners in the remaining areas where data were available earned wages that were not measurably different from the U.S. average.

These statistics are from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey, a federal-state cooperative program between BLS and State Workforce Agencies, in this case, the Illinois Department of Employment Security, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, the Iowa Department of Workforce Development, the Missouri Department of Employment Security, and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

Technical Note

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey is a semiannual survey measuring occupational employment and wage rates for wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments in the United States. The OES data available from BLS include cross-industry occupational employment and wage estimates for the nation; over 650 areas, including states and the District of Columbia, metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), metropolitan divisions, nonmetropolitan areas, and territories; national industry-specific estimates at the NAICS sector, 3-, 4-, and selected 5- and 6-digit industry levels; and national estimates by ownership across all industries and for schools and hospitals. OES data are available at www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm.

OES estimates are constructed from a sample of about 1.2 million establishments. Each year, two semiannual panels of approximately 200,000 sampled establishments are contacted, one panel in May and the other in November. Responses are obtained by mail, Internet or other electronic means, email, telephone, or personal visit. The May 2016 estimates are based on responses from six semiannual panels collected over a 3-year period: May 2016, November 2015, May 2015, November 2014, May 2014, and November 2013. The overall national response rate for the six panels, based on the 50 states and the District of Columbia, is 73 percent based on establishments and 69 percent based on weighted sampled employment. The unweighted employment of sampled establishments across all six semiannual panels represents approximately 58 percent of total national employment. For more information about OES concepts and methodology, go to www.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.

The May 2016 OES estimates are based on the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system and the 2012 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Information about the 2010 SOC is available on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/soc and information about the 2012 NAICS is available at www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm.

Metropolitan area definitions

The substate area data published in this release reflect the standards and definitions established by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

• Bloomington, Ill. Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) includes DeWitt and McLean Counties in Illinois.
• Cape Girardeau, Mo.-Ill. MSA includes Alexander County in Illinois and Bollinger and Cape Girardeau Counties in Missouri.
• Carbondale-Marion, Ill. MSA includes Jackson and Williamson Counties in Illinois.
• Champaign-Urbana, Ill. MSA includes Champaign, Ford, and Piatt Counties in Illinois.
• Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. MSA includes the following:
  • Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, Ill. Metropolitan Division includes the following: Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kendall, McHenry, and Will Counties in Illinois.
  • Elgin, Ill. Metropolitan Division includes DeKalb and Kane Counties in Illinois.
  • Gary, Ind. Metropolitan Division includes the following: Jasper, Lake, Newton, and Porter Counties in Indiana.
  • Lake County-Kenosha County, Ill.-Wis. Metropolitan Division includes the following: Lake County in Illinois and Kenosha County in Wisconsin.
• Danville, Ill. MSA includes Vermilion County in Illinois.
• Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Iowa- Ill. MSA includes Henry, Mercer and Rock Island Counties in Illinois and Scott County in Iowa.
• Decatur, Ill. MSA includes Macon County in Illinois.
• Kankakee, Ill. MSA includes Kankakee County in Illinois.
• Peoria, Ill. MSA includes Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell and Woodford Counties in Illinois.
• Rockford, Ill. MSA includes Boone and Winnebago Counties in Illinois.
• St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. MSA includes Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair Counties in Illinois and Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis, and Warren Counties and St. Louis City in Missouri.
• Springfield, Ill. MSA includes Menard and Sangamon Counties in Illinois.

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