Illinois Tax Rate vs. Midwest ICU States
Illinois's 4.95% flat income tax is predictable — no bracket surprises mid-contract. Compared to Wisconsin and Minnesota, Illinois delivers meaningfully better net take-home on identical gross weekly packages.
| State | Income Tax | NLC Compact | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 4.95% flat | ✅ Yes | Predictable flat rate — same as Missouri |
| Indiana | 3.05% flat | ✅ Yes | Lowest flat rate in the Midwest |
| Missouri | 4.95% top | ✅ Yes | Graduated; top rate matches IL flat |
| Wisconsin | 3.54–7.65% | ✅ Yes | Graduated — higher at upper brackets |
| Minnesota | 5.35–9.85% | ✅ Yes | Highest Midwest tax rate |
| Ohio | 2.765–3.99% | ✅ Yes | Graduated; lower than IL on most incomes |
Why Travel ICU Nurses Choose Illinois
From a top-10 US cardiac surgery program to one of the nation's densest Level I trauma ICU clusters and rare burn ICU specialty contracts, Illinois offers travel ICU nurses elite-acuity assignments across multiple critical care subspecialties.
UChicago Medicine CVICU — Top-10 US Cardiac Program
The University of Chicago Medicine Heart & Vascular Center CVICU is one of the top 10 cardiac surgery programs in the United States. Travelers work alongside transplant surgeons and perfusionists on heart transplant, bilateral lung transplant, ECMO (VA and VV), LVAD implantation, TAVR, and complex open cardiac surgery. For travel ICU nurses seeking elite cardiovascular critical care acuity, UChicago CVICU is a career-defining Illinois assignment paying $2,600–$3,400/week.
Chicago Level I Trauma ICU Cluster — Four Centers
Northwestern Memorial, Rush University Medical Center, UI Health, and Stroger Hospital of Cook County form one of the densest Level I trauma ICU clusters in the US. Stroger carries the highest trauma volume in all of Illinois. This concentration generates consistent, year-round ICU travel contract demand across MICU, SICU, trauma ICU, and neuro ICU settings — with pay ranging $2,400–$3,100/week at Rush and Advocate Christ.
Burn ICU Specialty Premium — $2,700–$3,400/wk
Illinois has only three burn ICUs in the state: UI Health (Chicago), Loyola University Medical Center (Maywood), and SIU Medicine (Springfield). UI Health and Loyola are major burn centers managing escharotomy, fluid resuscitation, skin graft ICU care, and complex ventilator management for burn patients. Burn ICU travel RNs in Illinois command $2,700–$3,400/week — among the highest specialty ICU rates in the Midwest.
NLC Compact — Fast-Start for eNLC Travelers
Illinois is a full NLC Compact state. Travel ICU nurses with compact home state licenses begin working via eNLC multistate privilege without a separate Illinois RN license — enabling immediate Chicago metro placement. Illinois's 4.95% flat income tax is predictable and identical to Missouri's, making mid-contract financial planning straightforward. Non-compact nurses should allow 6–10 weeks for IL DPR endorsement.
Key Illinois ICU Facilities
Illinois's ICU travel market is anchored by Chicago's dense academic and Level I trauma corridor — with additional HPSA shortage demand in downstate markets including Peoria, Springfield, and Champaign-Urbana.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital — Chicago (Level I Trauma)
Northwestern Medicine's flagship hospital in Streeterville, Chicago. Home to the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute — one of the highest-volume heart and lung transplant programs in the United States, rivaling Duke, UPMC, and UConn.
- Bluhm CVICU — Heart transplant, bilateral lung transplant, ECMO (VA/VV), LVAD (HeartMate 3), TAVR, IABP, Impella management
- Neuro ICU — Stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, TBI, post-craniotomy care
- MSICU — Medical-surgical ICU; complex medicine, trauma, multi-organ failure
- Oncology ICU — Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center critical care — hematologic malignancies, BMT complications
Rush University Medical Center — Chicago (Level I Trauma)
Rush University Medical Center in the Illinois Medical District anchors Chicago's near-west side trauma and cardiac ICU market. Rush Heart & Vascular Center drives consistent CVICU travel contract demand.
- CVICU — Rush Heart & Vascular Center; cardiac surgery, structural heart, TAVR
- Trauma SICU — Level I trauma; penetrating and blunt trauma, post-operative surgical ICU
- MICU — Sepsis, respiratory failure, complex medical critical care
- Stroke/Neuro ICU — High-volume stroke program; SAH, TBI, large-vessel occlusion
University of Illinois Hospital (UI Health) — Chicago (Level I Trauma)
UI Health in Chicago is one of Illinois's three Level I trauma centers and home to one of the state's rare burn ICUs. Travel ICU nurses with burn experience are in constant demand at UI Health.
- MICU — Medical critical care; complex medicine, sepsis, respiratory failure
- SICU — Post-operative surgical ICU; trauma and major abdominal surgery
- Burn ICU — One of only three burn ICUs in Illinois; escharotomy, fluid resuscitation, skin graft post-op, inhalation injury vent management
- Trauma ICU — High-volume Level I trauma serving Chicago's west and near-south sides
University of Chicago Medicine — Hyde Park (Level I Trauma)
UChicago Medicine is consistently ranked among the top 10 cardiac surgery programs in the United States. The Heart & Vascular Center CVICU is the premier cardiovascular critical care travel assignment in Illinois.
- CVICU — Top-10 US cardiac; heart transplant, heart-lung transplant, VA-ECMO, VV-ECMO, LVAD (HeartMate 3), TAVR
- CTICU — Cardiothoracic ICU; complex thoracic surgery, lung transplant post-operative care
- Solid Organ Transplant ICU — Liver, kidney, pancreas transplant critical care; one of the busiest transplant programs in IL
Advocate Christ Medical Center — Oak Lawn (Level I Trauma)
Advocate Christ is the highest-volume Level I trauma center in all of Illinois. Located in Oak Lawn (south suburban Chicago), it serves a massive Cook County trauma catchment with continuous ICU travel nurse demand.
- CVICU — cardiac surgery, structural heart, high-volume CABG and valve repair
- SICU and MICU — highest-volume Level I trauma in IL; consistent travel RN openings
- Level III NICU adjacent — complex perinatal-neonatal patient population
OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center — Peoria (Downstate HPSA)
OSF Saint Francis is the Level I trauma center for central and downstate Illinois — a massive geographic catchment covering mid-Illinois. Travel ICU nurses in Peoria earn $2,500–$3,000/week with HPSA shortage premiums.
- CVICU and MICU — regional referral center for cardiovascular and medical critical care
- Rural Illinois referral — sole Level I for large downstate catchment
- HPSA designation — geographic shortage premium on most ICU travel contracts
Illinois ICU Travel Nurse Pay by Unit Type
Weekly pay ranges reflect all-inclusive packages (taxable base + tax-free housing and meal stipends) for 13-week contracts in 2026. ECMO and burn ICU specialty experience add premium pay on top of listed ranges.
| ICU Type / Facility | Weekly Pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| UChicago Medicine CVICU / Transplant ICU | $2,600–$3,400/wk | Top-10 US cardiac; ECMO/LVAD/heart-lung Tx |
| Northwestern Bluhm CVICU | $2,600–$3,300/wk | Heart/lung transplant, ECMO, IABP, LVAD |
| Burn ICU (UI Health / Loyola) | $2,700–$3,400/wk | Escharotomy, graft ICU, vent management |
| Rush / Advocate Christ Level I Trauma ICU | $2,400–$3,100/wk | Highest-volume Level I in IL (Advocate Christ) |
| Chicago General ICU (MICU/SICU) | $2,400–$3,000/wk | NMH, Stroger, UI Health, Loyola |
| Neuro ICU (Stroke, SAH, TBI) | $2,500–$3,100/wk | Rush, NMH, Northwestern stroke programs |
| Downstate IL HPSA (OSF Peoria, SIU, Carle) | $2,500–$3,000/wk | Geographic shortage premium; rural referral centers |
Pay ranges are estimates for 2026. Actual packages vary by facility, shift, experience, and agency. Crisis and HPSA rates may exceed listed maximums.
Open Illinois ICU Travel Nurse Jobs
Live ICU RN contract openings in Illinois, updated every 4 hours from our jobs database.
New Illinois ICU Contracts Added Weekly
Illinois ICU travel contracts at Northwestern Memorial, Rush, UChicago Medicine, Advocate Christ, and UI Health open regularly. Search below or submit your profile — our recruiters match you to openings before they post publicly.
Search All Illinois ICU JobsUniversity of Chicago Medicine CVICU — Top-10 US Cardiac Deep Dive
The University of Chicago Medicine Heart & Vascular Center CVICU in Hyde Park is one of the top 10 cardiac surgery programs in the United States. For travel ICU nurses seeking elite cardiovascular critical care, UChicago CVICU is the premier Illinois assignment — with procedures and patient complexity that rival Duke, UConn, and UPMC.
Procedures & Patient Population
- Heart transplant — orthotopic heart transplant; complex post-transplant hemodynamic management
- Heart-lung transplant — simultaneous heart and lung Tx; advanced ventilator and vasopressor management
- LVAD implantation — HeartMate 3 and durable MCS for bridge-to-transplant and destination therapy
- Veno-arterial ECMO — cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest ECPR, post-cardiotomy failure
- Veno-venous ECMO — severe ARDS, bridge to lung transplant
- TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement) — structural heart; complex post-TAVR ICU management
- Solid organ transplant ICU — liver, kidney, pancreas Tx; one of Illinois's busiest transplant programs
Experience & Pay Requirements
- Minimum Exp2 years CVICU, ideally at a transplant-capable or ECMO-capable facility
- ECMO CertStrongly preferred; adds $200–$400/week above standard CVICU base rate
- CCRNPreferred; adds $250–$400/week at UChicago Medicine contracts
- CSC / CMCAACN cardiovascular subspecialty certifications add $150–$250/week
- ACLS / BLSMandatory — AHA-issued cards preferred
ECMO Premium at UChicago
ECMO Specialist certification adds $200–$400/week above standard CVICU rates. ELSO training and institutional ECMO credentialing both accepted. Top UChicago ECMO CVICU packages reach $3,400+/week total.
Pay range at UChicago Medicine CVICU: $2,600–$3,400/week for standard CVICU travel contracts. ECMO-credentialed nurses with 2+ years CVICU transplant experience can reach $3,400–$3,800/week total package. 13-week contracts standard; extensions common.
Northwestern Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute CVICU
Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute in Chicago is one of the highest-volume heart and lung transplant programs in the United States — comparable in volume and complexity to Duke, UConn, and UPMC. For travel CVICU nurses, the Bluhm CVICU is one of Illinois's most coveted assignments.
Bluhm CVICU Procedures
- Heart transplant — high-volume orthotopic heart transplant program; post-Tx hemodynamic management
- Lung transplant — bilateral and single lung transplant; complex ventilator management post-Tx
- ECMO — veno-arterial and veno-venous ECMO; cardiogenic shock, ARDS, bridge-to-Tx
- IABP and Impella management — mechanical circulatory support for cardiogenic shock
- LVAD (HeartMate 3) — durable mechanical circulatory support; bridge-to-Tx and destination therapy
- PA catheter management — pulmonary artery catheter, hemodynamic optimization post-cardiac surgery
Additional NMH ICU Units
- Neuro ICUStroke, SAH, TBI, post-craniotomy — high-volume Northwestern stroke program
- MSICUMedical-surgical ICU; trauma, complex medicine, multi-organ failure
- Onco ICULurie Cancer Center — BMT, hematologic malignancy, immunocompromised critical care
Bluhm CVICU Pay Range
$2,600–$3,300/week for travel CVICU at Northwestern Bluhm. ECMO-credentialed nurses may reach $3,300–$3,700/week with premium agency contracts. NLC Compact — start in as little as 2 weeks with eNLC privilege.
Illinois Burn ICU — UI Health & Loyola Specialty Premium
Illinois has only three burn ICUs in the entire state: UI Health in Chicago, Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, and SIU Medicine in Springfield. Travel ICU nurses with burn experience are in constant demand and earn $2,700–$3,400/week — among the highest specialty ICU travel rates in the Midwest.
Burn ICU Clinical Skills Required
- Escharotomy assistance and wound care management — full-thickness burn care
- Fluid resuscitation (Parkland formula) — management of massive fluid shifts in the first 24–48 hours
- Inhalation injury ventilator management — complex respiratory failure from smoke and chemical inhalation
- Skin graft ICU post-operative care — split-thickness and full-thickness autograft post-op management
- Infection control — burn patients have severely compromised skin barriers; strict isolation protocols
- Pain and sedation management — complex multimodal analgesia for burn patients
Illinois Burn ICU Centers
UI Health — Chicago
Major burn center serving Chicago and northern Illinois. Level I trauma with integrated burn ICU. Handles chemical, thermal, and electrical burns plus inhalation injury. Travel burn ICU RNs: $2,700–$3,400/week.
Loyola University Medical Center — Maywood
Loyola Burn Center serves Chicago's western suburbs and is one of the only two major burn centers in the Chicago metro. Level I trauma + burn ICU combination. Consistent travel burn ICU demand.
Contract Highlights
- Pay: $2,700–$3,400/week (IL burn ICU)
- Experience: minimum 1 year burn ICU required
- Certifications: CCRN preferred; burn nursing cert a plus
- Demand: consistent year-round; burn ICU travelers scarce
Chicago Level I Trauma ICU Cluster — Four Centers
The Chicago metro area contains four Level I trauma centers within a 15-mile radius: Northwestern Memorial, Rush University Medical Center, UI Health, and Stroger Hospital of Cook County. This concentration creates one of the most dense and consistent Level I trauma ICU travel markets in the United States.
Stroger Hospital of Cook County — Chicago
John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County carries the highest trauma volume in all of Illinois — serving the city's most underserved populations as the county's safety-net Level I trauma center. Penetrating and blunt trauma from across Cook County concentrates here.
- SICU — highest-volume trauma ICU in Illinois; penetrating and blunt trauma
- MICU — complex medical critical care; high-volume sepsis, respiratory failure
- Burn ICU — one of Illinois's burn centers; thermal and chemical burn care
Loyola University Medical Center — Maywood
Loyola is a Level I trauma center in Maywood (western suburbs of Chicago) with a Heart & Vascular Institute CVICU, active burn center, and neuro ICU. Consistent travel ICU demand across multiple subspecialties.
- Heart & Vascular Institute CVICU — cardiac surgery, TAVR, structural heart
- SICU and trauma ICU — Level I trauma; western corridor catchment
- Neuro ICU — stroke, TBI, post-craniotomy; neurosurgery-level acuity
Chicago Trauma ICU Float Pool Opportunity: Travel ICU nurses at Chicago Level I trauma centers may access float pool opportunities across multiple ICU types — SICU, MICU, trauma ICU, and neuro ICU. This multi-unit flexibility is valued by experienced travel ICU nurses seeking to broaden subspecialty exposure within a single Chicago-metro contract. Confirm float expectations with your recruiter before signing.
Downstate Illinois ICU Shortage — HPSA Shortage Premium
Outside of Chicago, downstate Illinois has a significant critical care nursing shortage. OSF HealthCare Saint Francis in Peoria, SIU Medicine in Springfield, and Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana-Champaign are all regional referral centers with HPSA designations — and pay $2,500–$3,000/week for travel ICU RNs.
OSF Saint Francis — Peoria
Level I trauma center for central Illinois. Sole major ICU referral for a large geographic catchment. CVICU, MICU, and trauma ICU contract demand year-round.
$2,500–$3,000/wk
SIU Medicine — Springfield
Southern Illinois University Medicine serves the capital region and central-southern Illinois. Memorial Medical Center Springfield is a Level I trauma partner — regional MICU and SICU demand.
$2,500–$2,900/wk
Carle Foundation Hospital — Urbana
Regional referral center for east-central Illinois serving the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign corridor. MICU and cardiac care with consistent travel ICU openings.
$2,500–$2,900/wk
Why Downstate IL Pays Less Than Chicago But More Than Rural Average
Downstate Illinois HPSA markets pay $2,500–$3,000/week — less than Chicago's academic top tier but significantly above national rural ICU averages. Living costs in Peoria, Springfield, and Champaign are far lower than Chicago, amplifying net take-home. For travel ICU nurses open to non-metro assignments, downstate Illinois offers strong value with meaningful HPSA shortage premiums and longer contract availability.
ICU Certifications That Add Pay in Illinois
Northwestern Memorial, Rush, UChicago Medicine, Advocate Christ, and UI Health all offer certification premiums on travel ICU contracts. Earning your CCRN before your next Illinois contract adds $250–$400/week — and ECMO certification opens the highest-paying positions in the state.
CCRN (AACN)
Adult Critical Care Registered Nurse — the gold standard ICU certification. Required or preferred at Northwestern Memorial, Rush, and UChicago Medicine contracts.
+$250–$400/week in Illinois
150-question computer-adaptive exam. 1,750 hours direct critical care required. Renewal every 3 years (90 CERPs or re-exam).
ECMO Specialist (ELSO / Institutional)
Opens UChicago Medicine and Northwestern Bluhm CVICU ECMO positions — the highest-paying ICU travel assignments in Illinois.
+$200–$400/week
ELSO training accepted. Institutional ECMO credentialing also accepted. Minimum 2 years CVICU experience required.
CSC / CMC (AACN)
Cardiac Surgery Certified (CSC) and Cardiac Medicine Certified (CMC) — preferred for CVICU-specific assignments at UChicago Medicine, Northwestern Bluhm, and Rush.
+$150–$250/week
Subspecialty certs from AACN. CCRN eligibility required. 1,750 hours in cardiovascular critical care nursing.
PCCN (AACN)
Progressive Care Certified Nurse — qualifies step-down and progressive care ICU positions at large Illinois health systems including Advocate and Northwestern Medicine.
+$100–$200/week
Intermediate-care or step-down focus. Renewal every 3 years.
BLS + ACLS (Mandatory)
Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support are mandatory for all Illinois ICU travel contracts. Ensure renewals are current before your start date.
Required — no exceptions
AHA-issued cards preferred at most Illinois facilities. Renewal every 2 years.
Certification Strategy for Illinois
CCRN + ECMO is the highest-value certification stack for Illinois ICU travel in 2026 — unlocking UChicago Medicine and Northwestern Bluhm CVICU ECMO positions at $3,400–$3,800/week total package. Prioritize CCRN first; then pursue ECMO training before transitioning to travel. The burn ICU specialty (UI Health, Loyola) is the highest-demand niche with the lowest supply of qualified travel nurses.
Illinois RN Licensure Guide for Travel ICU Nurses
NLC ✅
Illinois is a full NLC Compact state. eNLC multistate privilege valid. Verify at nursys.com before start date.
4.95% flat
Illinois income tax — flat rate, predictable. No bracket surprises mid-contract.
6–10 wks
IL DPR RN endorsement timeline for non-compact nurses. Apply immediately on contract identification.
2 weeks
Fastest Illinois start for eNLC compact nurses — multistate privilege activated immediately.
For NLC Compact State Nurses
- Verify your eNLC multistate privilege is active at nursys.com
- Confirm Illinois is listed in your active practice states
- Notify your recruiter — no additional IL license application needed
- Start as quickly as 2 weeks with eNLC multistate privilege active
For Non-Compact State Nurses
- Apply for Illinois RN endorsement through Illinois Department of Professional Regulation (IL DPR)
- Submit transcripts, verification of licensure from home state, and NCLEX proof
- Allow 6–10 weeks for IL DPR processing — do not wait until you have an offer
- Pay $50 endorsement fee; fingerprint background check required
Frequently Asked Questions — Travel ICU Nurse Jobs Illinois
How much do travel ICU nurses make in Illinois?
Travel ICU nurses in Illinois earn $2,400–$3,400/week depending on unit type and facility. UChicago Medicine CVICU and Northwestern Bluhm CVICU pay $2,600–$3,400/week for heart/lung transplant and ECMO assignments. Burn ICU contracts at UI Health and Loyola pay $2,700–$3,400/week — reflecting the scarcity of burn-specialized travel RNs. Rush University and Advocate Christ Level I trauma ICU contracts pay $2,400–$3,100/week. Downstate IL HPSA markets (OSF Peoria, SIU Springfield, Carle Urbana) pay $2,500–$3,000/week with geographic shortage premiums. CCRN certification adds $250–$400/week across all major Illinois ICU facilities.
Is Illinois an NLC Compact state?
Yes — Illinois is a full NLC (Nursing Licensure Compact) member. Travel ICU nurses with compact home state licenses can practice in Illinois via eNLC multistate privilege without obtaining a separate Illinois RN license. Verify your eNLC multistate privilege at nursys.com before your start date. Nurses whose home state is not compact must apply for Illinois RN endorsement through the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation (IL DPR), which typically takes 6–10 weeks. Apply as soon as you identify a potential Illinois contract.
What experience is needed for UChicago Medicine CVICU?
UChicago Medicine CVICU is a top-10 US cardiac surgery program managing heart transplant, bilateral lung transplant, LVAD implantation, veno-arterial ECMO (VA-ECMO), veno-venous ECMO (VV-ECMO), TAVR, and complex open cardiac surgery. Most UChicago CVICU travel positions require a minimum of 2 years of CVICU experience — ideally at a transplant center or ECMO-capable facility. ECMO certification (ELSO or institutional) is strongly preferred and adds $200–$400/week to base CVICU pay. CCRN and CSC/CMC certifications are also preferred.
What is the Illinois burn ICU travel nursing opportunity?
Illinois has three burn ICUs in the state — UI Health in Chicago, Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, and SIU Medicine in Springfield. UI Health and Loyola are major burn centers managing full-thickness burns, escharotomy, fluid resuscitation (Parkland formula), skin graft ICU post-operative care, inhalation injury with complex ventilator management, and multi-organ failure in burn patients. Burn ICU travel nurses in Illinois earn $2,700–$3,400/week — among the highest specialty ICU rates in the Midwest. Burn ICU experience is rare, making qualified burn ICU travelers highly competitive for these contracts.
What ICU certifications add pay in Illinois?
CCRN (Adult Critical Care RN from AACN) adds $250–$400/week at Northwestern Memorial, Rush, UI Health, and UChicago Medicine ICU contracts. ECMO Specialist certification opens UChicago Medicine and Northwestern Bluhm CVICU ECMO positions, adding $200–$400/week above standard CVICU rates. CSC (Cardiac Surgery Certified) or CMC (Cardiac Medicine Certified) from AACN adds $150–$250/week for CVICU-specific Illinois contracts. BLS and ACLS are mandatory for all Illinois ICU travel assignments without exception.
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Ready for Your Illinois ICU Contract?
UChicago Medicine CVICU, Northwestern Bluhm heart & lung transplant, Chicago Level I trauma, or downstate HPSA — CatSol recruiters match you to Illinois ICU contracts that fit your specialty, certifications, and schedule.
NLC Compact state — start in as little as 2 weeks with eNLC multistate privilege. New Illinois ICU contracts posted weekly.
CatSol Healthcare Staffing — placing travel ICU nurses at UChicago Medicine, Northwestern Memorial, Rush University Medical Center, Advocate Christ, UI Health, Loyola, OSF Peoria, and downstate Illinois facilities.