Registered Nurse · Salary Comparison · 2026
Registered Nurse Salary: Chicago, IL vs San Francisco, CA
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Registered Nurses in Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ San Francisco, CA
$80,000 vs $130,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Chicago, IL
$74,766 vs $69,892
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Chicago, IL
$65,664 vs $58,575
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | San Francisco, CA | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $80,000 | $130,000▲ | -$50,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,000 | $100,000▲ | -$38,000 |
| 75th Percentile | $102,000 | $165,000▲ | -$63,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $124,000 | $200,000▲ | -$76,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 186 | -79 |
| State Income Tax | 4.95%▲ | 9.3% | -4.3500000000000005% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $74,766▲ | $69,892 | +$4,874 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $70,261 | $108,949▲ | -$38,688 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $65,664▲ | $58,575 | +$7,089 |
| Total Employment | 48,000 | 28,000 | +20,000 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Chicago, IL minus San Francisco, CA.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, San Francisco, CA pays $50,000 more (median: $80,000 vs $130,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 107 vs 186), Chicago, IL provides better purchasing power ($74,766 vs $69,892 equivalent). Chicago, IL has the lower state tax rate (4.95% vs 9.3%).
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.