Among Illinois’ nine metropolitan areas, Chicago-Naperville-Joliet was the only area to have wages significantly above the national average for registered nurses and for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Charlene Peiffer noted that there were two other areas, Bloomington-Normal and Decatur, with wages falling measurably below those for the nation in both of these nursing occupations. Nationwide, the average (mean) wage for registered nurses was $67,720, and for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, $41,360. (See table A.) (For comprehensive definitions of metropolitan areas in Minnesota, please see Technical Note.)

Of the nine metropolitan areas in Illinois, the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet area had the largest number of registered nurses (89,890) and licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (14,130), accounting for 72 percent of the nursing jobs in the State. Peoria was the only other area where employment exceeded 4,000 for registered nurses and no other area had more than 1,000 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses. (See table B.)

Wages for registered nurses in metropolitan areas in Illinois

Chicago-Naperville-Joliet was the only metropolitan area with measurably higher wages for registered nurses in the State ($70,420 per year), averaging more than $2,000 above the national wage for this occupation. In contrast, 8 of the 9 metropolitan areas had significantly lower wages for registered nurses, of which 2 had wages more than $12,000 below the national average–Bloomington-Normal and Peoria. (See chart 1.)

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

Chicago-Naperville-Joliet ($44,170) and Rockford ($43,890) had the highest wages in the State for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses and were the only two metropolitan areas in Illinois with wages that were significantly higher than the nationwide average for this occupation. In contrast, two metropolitan areas had measurably lower wages for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, both averaging under $40,000–Decatur and Bloomington-Normal (See chart 2.)

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 and the Indiana and Wisconsin Departments of Workforce Development. The OES survey provides estimates of employment and hourly and annual wages for wage and salary workers in 22 major occupational groups and nearly 800 non-military detailed occupations for the nation, states, metropolitan statistical areas, metropolitan divisions, and nonmetropolitan areas.

Technical Note

The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey is a semiannual mail survey measuring occupational employment and wage rates for wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments in the United States. OES estimates are constructed from a sample of about 1.2 million establishments. Forms are mailed to approximately 200,000 establishments in May and November of each year for a 3-year period. The nationwide response rate for the May 2010 estimates was 78.2 percent based on establishments and 74.4 percent based on employment. May 2010 estimates are based on responses from six semiannual panels collected over a 3-year period: May 2010, November 2009, May 2009, November 2008, May 2008, and November 2007. For more information about OES concepts and methodology, go to www.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.

The May 2010 OES estimates mark the first set of estimates based in part on data collected using the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. Nearly all the occupations in this release are 2010 SOC occupations; however, some are not. The May 2012 OES data will reflect the full set of detailed occupations in the 2010 SOC. For a list of all occupations, including 2010 SOC occupations, and how data collected on two structures were combined, see the OES Frequently Asked Questions online at www.bls.gov/oes/oes_ques.htm#Ques41.

OES data by state and metropolitan/nonmetropolitan area are available from www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm and www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm , respectively.

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) 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-Normal, Ill. MSA consists of McLean County.

Champaign-Urbana, Ill. MSA consists of Champaign, Ford, and Piatt Counties.

Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill. MSA consists of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties in Illinois; Jasper, Lake, Newton, and Porter Counties in Indiana; and Kenosha County in Wisconsin.

Danville, Ill. MSA consists of Vermilion County.

Decatur, Ill. MSA consists of Macon County.

Kankakee-Bradley, Ill. MSA consists of Kankakee County.

Peoria, Ill. MSA consists of Marshall, Peoria, Stark, Tazewell, and Woodford Counties.

Rockford, Ill. MSA consists of Boone and Winnebago Counties.

Springfield, Ill. MSA consists of Menard County Sangamon Counties

Additional information

OES data are available on our regional web page at www.bls.gov/ro5.  If you have additional questions, contact the Chicago Economic Analysis and Information Unit at 312-353-1880. Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone:  202-691-5200; TDD message referral phone number: 1-800-877-8339.