Among Illinois’ 12 metropolitan areas, Chicago-Joliet-Naperville was the only area to have wages significantly above the national average for both 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 in contrast, Cape-Girardeau-Jackson, Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Decatur, and St. Louis all registered wages significantly below those of the nation for both nursing occupations. Nationwide, the average (mean) wage for registered nurses was $69,110, and for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, $42,040. (See table A. For comprehensive definitions of metropolitan areas in Illinois, and differences between 2011 and 2010 SOC definitions of registered nurses, please see Technical Note.)

Of the 12 metropolitan areas located entirely or partially in the state, the Chicago-Joliet-Naperville area had the largest number of registered nurses (91,580) and licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses (14,040), which together, accounted for 72 percent of the state’s employment in these two occupations. The St. Louis Metropolitan area, which includes eight counties in Illinois, employed 36,190 registered nurses. Peoria, Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, and Rockford were the only other areas where employment exceeded 4,000 for registered nurses. St. Louis employed 7,890 licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses; no other area in the state had more than 1,000 jobs in this occupation (See table B.)

Wages for registered nurses in metropolitan areas in Illinois

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville was the only metropolitan area in the state with significantly higher wages for registered nurses at $70,390 per year. In contrast, 9 of the 12 metropolitan areas had significantly lower wages for registered nurses, of which 4—Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Peoria, Cape Girardeau-Jackson, and Rockford—averaged more than $10,000 below that for the nation. (See chart 1. For the purpose of completeness, the chart also includes nonmetropolitan areas.)

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

Annual mean wages among licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses were significantly higher than the nationwide average of $42,040 in four of Illinois’ metropolitan areas—Champaign-Urbana ($52,010), Peoria ($44,790), Chicago-Joliet-Naperville ($44,280), and Rockford ($44,060). In contrast, four metropolitan areas—Decatur ($40,460), St. Louis ($39,910), Davenport-Moline-Rock Island ($36,520), and Cape Girardeau-Jackson ($33,230)—had wages significantly lower than the U.S. average. (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 about 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. Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands also are surveyed, but their data are not included in the national estimates. 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 2011 survey was 77.3 percent based on establishments and 73.3 percent based on employment. May 2011 estimates are based on responses from six semiannual panels collected over a 3-year period: May 2011, November 2010, May 2010, November 2009, May 2009, and November 2008. For more information about OES concepts and methodology, go to www.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.

The May 2011 OES estimates are based in part on data collected using the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system and in part on data collected using the 2000 SOC system. Nearly all the occupations in this release are 2010 SOC occupations; however, some are not. In these cases, an estimate for a hybrid OES-specific occupation was created from data reported for one or more occupations in the 2000 SOC combined with data reported for one or more 2010 SOC occupations. Some occupations have the same title as a 2010 SOC occupation, but not the same content. These occupations are given a temporary code for the OES data. Registered nurses is one of several occupations affected by this type of definitional change. The May 2011 estimate for registered nurses is a combination of data collected for the 2000 SOC occupation 29-1111 registered nurses; and the 2010 occupations 29-1141 registered nurses, 29-1151 nurse anesthetists, 29-1161 nurse midwives, and 29-1171 nurse practitioners. 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.

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.

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.

Cape Girardeau-Jackson, MO.-Ill. MSA consists of Alexander County in Illinois; and Bollinger and Cape Girardeau Counties in Missouri.

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

Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, 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.

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, Ill.-Iowa MSA consists of Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island Counties in Illinois; and Scott County in Iowa.

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.

St. Louis, Mo.-Ill. MSA consists of Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair Counties in Illinois; and Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis, Warren, and Washington Counties and St. Louis City in Missouri.

Springfield, Ill. MSA consists of Menard County Sangamon Counties.