Wages vary by employer and by the assistant's level of experience and responsibility.
Depending on the employer, assistants who work full time may receive health insurance, paid leave, and a retirement plan. However, many jobs are part time and not all employers offer benefits.
                Nursing assistants (SOC 31-1131)
  
  
            
    | Location | Pay Period |  | ||
| 25% | Median | 75% | ||
| Illinois | Hourly | $19.05 | $22.13 | $23.79 | 
| Yearly | $39,615 | $46,022 | $49,478 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $18.65 | $20.42 | $22.22 | 
| Yearly | $38,774 | $42,491 | $46,231 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $18.00 | $18.73 | $22.23 | 
| Yearly | $37,431 | $38,945 | $46,246 | |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | Hourly | $19.13 | $22.14 | $23.42 | 
| Yearly | $39,780 | $46,050 | $48,720 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $20.01 | $22.90 | $24.20 | 
| Yearly | $41,622 | $47,640 | $50,329 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $18.44 | $20.17 | $23.24 | 
| Yearly | $38,356 | $41,959 | $48,335 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $19.67 | $22.94 | $24.69 | 
| Yearly | $40,926 | $47,722 | $51,351 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $19.28 | $22.84 | $23.71 | 
| Yearly | $40,108 | $47,503 | $49,310 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $18.23 | $19.25 | $23.66 | 
| Yearly | $37,920 | $40,055 | $49,222 | |
| Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area | Hourly | $17.71 | $19.01 | $23.54 | 
| Yearly | $36,830 | $39,536 | $48,971 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $18.00 | $18.80 | $23.39 | 
| Yearly | $37,434 | $39,111 | $48,646 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $21.00 | $22.78 | $24.09 | 
| Yearly | $43,673 | $47,382 | $50,100 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $20.61 | $22.73 | $23.93 | 
| Yearly | $42,870 | $47,285 | $49,787 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $17.75 | $19.04 | $23.00 | 
| Yearly | $36,919 | $39,593 | $47,838 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $18.42 | $19.61 | $23.51 | 
| Yearly | $38,311 | $40,786 | $48,898 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $17.49 | $18.66 | $21.71 | 
| Yearly | $36,377 | $38,811 | $45,154 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $16.83 | $18.54 | $21.64 | 
| Yearly | $35,001 | $38,568 | $45,007 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $18.49 | $19.26 | $21.99 | 
| Yearly | $38,461 | $40,065 | $45,731 | |
| Shawnee National Forest Area | Hourly | $17.72 | $18.69 | $23.35 | 
| Yearly | $36,854 | $38,866 | $48,565 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $18.65 | $19.50 | $22.78 | 
| Yearly | $38,779 | $40,556 | $47,382 | |
| Vermilion County | Hourly | $18.28 | $21.79 | $23.98 | 
| Yearly | $38,017 | $45,328 | $49,894 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $19.48 | $22.38 | $23.80 | 
| Yearly | $40,506 | $46,551 | $49,497 | |
| United States | Hourly | $17.44 | $19.01 | $22.15 | 
| Yearly | $36,260 | $39,530 | $46,070 | |
 Occupation is in demand.
 Occupation is in demand.