Salaries for MSN-Educated Nurses in Illinois

RNs thinking about returning to school to earn a master’s degree are motivated in part by the direct correlation between higher education and higher salaries. The 2012 nurse salary survey conducted by the Advance Healthcare Network for Nurses clearly illustrates the financial benefits of a MSN degree in the Midwestern region of the US:

• Bachelor’s Degree – $59,232
• Master’s Degree – $77,090

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There are 36 schools in Illinois accredited by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). According to the AACN, 5,845 Illinois nurses were enrolled in RN to MSN bridge programs in 2013 and 5,845 were studying to become Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs). Currently, only 4.8 percent of nurses in Illinois are APNs.

MSN-educated nurses also have many career options outside of the clinical environment in research, administration, education and informatics.

Regional Salaries for Nurse Practitioners in Illinois

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) annual survey of occupational wages is one of the most used indicators of US salaries. Their 2013 survey maintains that the 3,290 nurse practitioners working in Illinois earned the following:

Salaries tend to vary with location. The Illinois Department of Employment Security’s 2013 wage data report lists the following nurse practitioner annual salaries in various areas of Illinois:

In contrast, an RN with a baccalaureate degree earns the following in the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville Metropolitan area which the BLS maintains is the nation’s metropolitan area with the fourth highest employment level for this occupation.

• Entry-Level – $52,893
• Mean – $70,059
• Experienced – $81,061

For the purpose of comparison, the following data provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows nurse practitioner salaries for different areas of Illinois:

Regional Salaries for Nurse Anesthetists in Illinois

The 2013 US Bureau of Labor Statistics survey lists the following nurse anesthetist salaries for the 1,060 nurse anesthetists who were practicing in Illinois in 2013:

The Illinois Department of Employment Security lists the following nurse anesthetist salaries for 2013:

For the purpose of comparison, the following data provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows nurse anesthetist salaries for different areas of Illinois:

Regional Salaries for Nurse Midwives in Illinois

According to the 2013 US Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, there were only 180 nurse midwives practicing in Illinois. Their salaries were as follows:

The Illinois Department of Employment Security’s 2013 data for nurse midwife salaries in Illinois are:

For the purpose of comparison, the following data provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows certified nurse midwife salaries for different areas of Illinois:

* These salary and wage figures are at or above $90.00 per hour and $187,199 per year. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics generally does not report annual salaries over $187,199 or hourly wages over $90.00.

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