Can I live on an LPN salary in Chicago?

U.S.A. Illinois

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Hello everyone, I want to hear from the LPN's in the Chicagoland area, I hear most starting salaries for LPN's are between $18-$25/hr. Is it possible to live comfortably on this salary from working a regular 40/week position or do you have to work multiple positions, and at multiple companies, or do overtime in order to earn a decent wage? (I hope im not offending anyone with this question) I am a single mother of 2 and although I plan on furthering my career, I still want to be able to earn good money once I obtain my nursing license

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Specializes in PCT, RN.

Kinda depends on where you live. If you're planning on living downtown in the loop or something, probably not. I have a friend who lives downtown and pays $1200 for a 500 sq.ft. studio + $300 for parking.

If you're looking more towards the suburbs, then possibly. Indiana is way cheaper to live than Illinois and depending on where you live, you can get to the city in 30 minutes (Munster/Highland/Griffith are all right off of the expressway).

I'm not sure what salary LPNs make in the city, also depends on where you work, but you can live well with something $20 an hour or more.

Another thing is that most hospitals in the city won't hire LPNs (or ASNs for that matter). Some of them will hire, but you have to be actively working on obtaining your BSN or higher for them to even consider you, and even then you have a time limit of when you need to have your BSN.

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I'm not sure what salary LPNs make in the city, also depends on where you work, but you can live well with something $20 an hour or more.

well once they take out taxes, medical insurance, and along with regular monthly expenses, it just doesnt seem like much would be left, I have RN friends who complain about their checks not being what they desire

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Specializes in PCT, RN.
well once they take out taxes, medical insurance, and along with regular monthly expenses, it just doesnt seem like much would be left, I have RN friends who complain about their checks not being what they desire

The reason why I say you can live well with that is because I am able to live well with only $16 an hour. It's possible to have decent living situations with $20 as long as you spend your money wisely and save what you can.

And as for your RN friends, again, if they are working in IL, they are getting A LOT taken out for taxes. IL is a very high-tax state so yes, it's hard to live and work in Chicago especially without a high income, but it is possible to live well, just perhaps not in the city.

I live in Indiana about 30 minutes from the city and it's astounding the differences in costs between the two as soon as you cross that state line.

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I lived comfortable with $11 an hr when my husband got laid off from his job; so it all depends on the person. My rent was $750 and I had 3 children. I am almost certain you can live good making $20 an hr. Just make sure you manage and don't live above your means.

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