Licensed Practical Nurse Jobs in Chicago, IL
Licensed practical nurse jobs in Chicago span nursing homes, hospital clinics, the VA and city schools, and recent VA postings in the Illinois Medical District ran from about $48,000 to $84,000 a year. Here are the current LPN openings, then who hires, what it pays and how to get licensed.
Current licensed practical nurse Openings in Chicago, IL
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Licensed Practical Nurse Work in Chicago
Most LPN work in Illinois is not in hospitals. The Illinois Nursing Workforce Center's 2025 survey found 28 percent of the state's LPNs in long-term care and nursing homes, 10 percent in outpatient clinics, 10 percent in assisted living and 8 percent in home health, with only 5 percent in hospitals. Cook County holds about 6,000 of the state's roughly 26,000 LPNs. In Chicago that means skilled nursing buildings in Lincoln Park, Bronzeville and the West Side, clinic jobs at the big systems, and a steady federal need at the Jesse Brown VA on South Damen.
The city also has a few LPN niches you will not find everywhere. Chicago Public Schools hires LPNs as school nurses, which means school-day hours. Northwestern Medicine posts LPN roles at its downtown hospitals, such as neurology. And because Illinois is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact, LPNs moving from Indiana or Wisconsin need an Illinois license first.
Top Chicago Employers Hiring Licensed Practical Nurses
These employers have posted LPN jobs or name LPNs among the roles they hire in Chicago:
- Northwestern Medicine - the downtown academic system posts Chicago LPN roles, including neurology.
- Jesse Brown VA Medical Center - the Illinois Medical District VA hospital and its Chicago Heights clinic hire practical nurses on the federal GS scale.
- Chicago Public Schools - hires LPNs with an Illinois license, CPR and a pharmacology certificate to work in city schools.
- Symphony Care Network - the skilled nursing operator recruits LPNs for sites including Lincoln Park, Chicago West and Bronzeville.
- Advocate Health - lists LPNs among its nursing support roles across its Chicago-area hospitals.
Licensed Practical Nurse Salaries in Chicago
- Entry level: about $48,000 to $55,000 a year for newly licensed LPNs.
- Experienced: roughly $55,000 to $75,000 a year with a few years in long-term care or clinics.
- Senior: about $75,000 to $88,000 a year for charge and top-step LPNs.
These are estimates. They follow the VA's recent Chicago practical nurse postings, which ran from about $48,000 to $88,600 a year across grade levels, and the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center's 2025 survey, where nearly half of LPNs reported $45,000 to $95,000. Night shifts, weekend premiums, charge duties and experience move pay, and federal grade steps set VA pay.
How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in Chicago
Illinois uses the title Licensed Practical Nurse. You finish a practical nursing program approved in Illinois, pass the NCLEX-PN, and get your license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), working with the Illinois Board of Nursing. The public route is the Practical Nursing certificate at Malcolm X College on West Jackson, 49 credit hours over four full-time semesters. In the Loop, Midwestern Career College on North LaSalle runs a 48-week LPN program and Verve College on West Jackson runs a 1,080-hour program that takes 14 to 15 months.
What the Job Involves
LPNs give medications and treatments, take vital signs, change dressings, collect specimens and report changes in a patient's condition to the RN or physician. In nursing homes they often run a hall or a unit on their shift, supervising nursing assistants and charting care plans. In clinics and schools they handle screenings, immunizations and care for chronic conditions.
Skills Employers Look For
- Active Illinois LPN license
- CPR or BLS certification
- Safe medication passes and accurate charting
- Wound care and basic assessment
- Leading and supporting nursing assistants
- Patience with elderly and long-term residents
Career Path and Advancement
Many Chicago LPNs start in long-term care, where most of the jobs are. The next step is usually RN. Malcolm X College offers an LPN-to-RN bridge, and Saint Xavier University and Chamberlain University's Chicago campus run LPN-to-BSN programs. Others stay practical nurses and move into VA, school or clinic roles with daytime hours.
Related Careers in Chicago
If practical nursing interests you, these Chicago guides are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it LPN or LVN in Illinois?
Illinois uses Licensed Practical Nurse, or LPN. The license is issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation after you pass the NCLEX-PN.
How long does it take to become an LPN in Chicago?
About a year to 16 months of school, depending on the program. Midwestern Career College's program runs 48 weeks, Verve College's takes 14 to 15 months, and Malcolm X College's certificate is four full-time semesters.
How much do LPNs make in Chicago?
Recent VA postings in Chicago ran from about $48,000 to $88,600 a year depending on grade. Nearly half of Illinois LPNs report earning between $45,000 and $95,000, with nights, weekends and charge duties adding to base pay.
Where do most LPNs work in Chicago?
Long-term care is the biggest employer of LPNs in Illinois, followed by clinics, assisted living and home health. Hospitals hire relatively few, though Northwestern Medicine and the VA do post LPN roles.
Can an LPN become an RN in Chicago while working?
Yes. Malcolm X College runs an LPN-to-RN bridge, and Saint Xavier University and Chamberlain University offer LPN-to-BSN programs.
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