4Live Travel Nursing Jobs in Chicago, IL · July 22 700+ 5-Star Reviews

Travel Nurse Jobs in Chicago, IL

Compare Chicago travel nurse jobs on posted weekly pay, narrow to your specialty and shift, and apply to several listings at once.

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All travel jobs · Chicago, IL
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    Chicagoland Travel Nurse Openings

    Chicago's travel nurse jobs draw on three well-known academic systems, Northwestern Medicine, Rush, and UChicago Medicine, plus a deep bench of community and safety-net hospitals across Chicagoland. That range means an ICU, ER, or Med Surg contract can sit in a downtown academic center or a neighborhood community site. Lakeview, West Loop, and Lincoln Park keep city access close, while Oak Park and Evanston open up suburban or north-side roles. With a dense transit network, your neighborhood and the rail line shape the commute as much as the campus does.

    Chicago travel contracts, by the numbers

    Inside the Chicago Travel Nursing Market

    Updated today
    $2,190
    Median weekly pay
    Range $1,553–$2,960 on open jobs
    4
    Open Chicago RN jobs
    Updated through the day
    Single-state
    License by endorsement
    Single-state: ~4-6 Weeks by endorsement
    4.95%
    State income tax
    4.95% flat
    −5%
    Cost of living vs U.S.
    Below U.S. average · 2-BR rent ~$1,558
    27%
    of RNs plan to retire within 5 years
    IL Nursing Workforce Center
    See the full Chicago salary breakdown New Median & percentiles, pay by specialty & metro, hourly, and take-home
    More cities in Illinois Peoria
    Read the full Illinois RN licensing guide
    Pay and open jobs are live Advantis inventory: marketplace contract value, not a staff-nurse wage. Cost of living, rent, tax, licensing and demand figures come from public sources (MERIC/BEA, HUD, Tax Foundation, NCSBN, BLS/HRSA) compiled in our State Reference. Tax and cost-of-living figures are general information, not advice; rent is a metro-varying average.

    What keeps Chicago's RN market deep

    Chicago's strength is its blend of marquee academic centers and a wide community and safety-net network across the metro. About 100,240 registered nurses work across the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro (BLS OEWS), and Illinois Nursing Workforce Center reporting adds state-level planning context. On cost, BEA regional price parities put local living about 3.6% above the U.S. average, close enough to the national mark that local costs land near typical. Illinois is not a Nurse Licensure Compact state, so a multistate license will not cover you here; build in time for an Illinois RN license.

    Getting a Chicago contract right

    Do I need an Illinois license to work in Chicago?
    Plan on getting licensed. Illinois has not joined the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate license won't cover a Chicago assignment. Give the Illinois Board of Nursing application enough runway, since that wait, not the job search, usually sets when a Chicago assignment can begin.
    Where do travel nurses work in Chicago?
    Northwestern Medicine, Rush, and UChicago Medicine give the city unusual academic depth, alongside large community networks across the city. The system is a fair first read on academic versus community pace; the specific campus and unit decide the rest, so check both before comparing two listings.
    What do travel nurse jobs in Chicago pay?
    Per contract. A Chicago weekly number reflects unit need across a deep hospital market, shift, and stipends tied to costs a bit above the national average. Weekly pay is posted on each listing, so sort by pay first, then sanity-check the neighborhood rent near the campus before you compare offers.
    Is travel demand steady across Chicago?
    Demand runs broad. With roughly 100,240 RNs (BLS OEWS) and three major academic systems plus large community networks, the metro supports a wide range of specialties. That depth means more options, but the licensing step and a competitive market reward lining up paperwork and housing before you start submitting.
    How does Chicago's layout affect where I should stay?
    The city is large and transit-oriented, so your base depends heavily on the campus and the L line that serves it. Lakeview, the West Loop, and Lincoln Park keep you central, while Oak Park and Evanston trade a longer ride for more space. Check the train route at your shift hours, including winter reliability, before settling.
    Is Chicago an expensive market for travelers?
    Moderately, with costs about 3.6% above the national average, lower than the coastal giants but still above the Midwest norm. Housing varies widely by neighborhood, so compare your stipend against the specific area near your campus rather than the metro figure, and factor in parking if you plan to keep a car.