Registered Nurse · Salary Comparison · 2026
Registered Nurse Salary: Chicago, IL vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Registered Nurses in Chicago, IL and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$80,000 vs $105,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Chicago, IL
$74,766 vs $56,150
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Chicago, IL
$65,664 vs $48,328
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $80,000 | $105,000▲ | -$25,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,000 | $80,000▲ | -$18,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $102,000 | $135,000▲ | -$33,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $124,000 | $165,000▲ | -$41,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 187 | -80 |
| State Income Tax | 4.95%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8999999999999995% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $74,766▲ | $56,150 | +$18,616 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $70,261 | $90,374▲ | -$20,113 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $65,664▲ | $48,328 | +$17,336 |
| Total Employment | 48,000 | 72,000 | -24,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Chicago, IL minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $25,000 more (median: $80,000 vs $105,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 107 vs 187), Chicago, IL provides better purchasing power ($74,766 vs $56,150 equivalent). Chicago, IL has the lower state tax rate (4.95% vs 6.85%).
4More Registered Nurse City Comparisons
Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.