How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Illinois in 2026?

A typical Physical Therapist in Illinois earns about $50.60 per hour ($105,250 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $8,771 a month or $2,024 a week, calculated from the annual figure. Physical Therapists in the state see fairly consistent pay across the range once these figures are broken down by pay period.

That pay sits 2% above the national figure of $102,760 a year for Physical Therapists, according to the same May 2025 data. Illinois ranks 9th among all 51 states and territories for Physical Therapist pay, placing it well within the top tier nationally. About 9,800 Physical Therapists work in Illinois, a workforce size that puts the state's figures on solid footing rather than resting on a handful of outlier employers.

Entry-level positions for Physical Therapists in Illinois typically offer around $39.90 an hour, or about $83,000 a year, according to the May 2025 wage data. New graduates and those early in their careers usually start near this figure. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical rate of $105,250 a year within the first several years on the job, as clinical experience builds.

Experienced Physical Therapists in Illinois often earn upwards of $59.10 an hour ($122,920 a year), reflecting years of clinical practice and specialization. The top 10% of earners make over $67.51 an hour, or $140,410 a year. The gap between entry-level and top pay reaches $57,410 a year, a spread shaped mainly by experience, practice setting, and which city a Physical Therapist works in.

Illinois Physical Therapist pay rose from $86,000 in 2015 to $105,250 in 2025, a gain of $19,250 over the decade. That's a 22% increase in typical annual pay over ten years. The rise was steady rather than sudden, climbing most years rather than jumping all at once.

Nationwide, Physical Therapist pay also climbed 22% over the same ten years, so Illinois tracked the national pace rather than falling behind or pulling ahead. Both the state and the country saw pay move up in most years of the past decade. For someone starting a Physical Therapy career in Illinois now, that record shows pay has trended upward, though nothing guarantees the same pace continues.

Pay runs highest in Decatur, where Physical Therapists typically earn $125,600 a year, about 19% above the statewide figure. Springfield follows at $115,990 a year, and Chicago comes in at $105,720, close to the state's typical pay. These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just the city limits.

Bloomington pays the least among Illinois's tracked cities, with typical pay of $97,250 a year, putting the spread between Illinois's highest- and lowest-paying cities at $28,350. Chicago employs the most Physical Therapists of any Illinois city, with about 7,880 working there. Higher pay in cities like Decatur and Springfield often reflects a higher cost of living rather than better job conditions alone.

Illinois pays Physical Therapists more than every neighboring state. Wisconsin comes closest at $101,840 a year, 3% below Illinois, followed by Indiana at $101,560 (4% below), Kentucky at $100,710 (4% below), Missouri at $99,310 (6% below), and Iowa at $97,560, about 7% lower. Physical Therapy licenses can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, worth checking before relocating.

Physical Therapists in Illinois typically earn $105,250 a year as of the latest government wage data (May 2025), up 22% over the past decade. Pay varies by city, experience, and setting, but the statewide figure gives a solid starting point for planning a career move. For state-specific requirements, check Illinois's physical therapy licensing board page, and for local pay figures, see the city-level pages for Chicago, Springfield, and other Illinois metro areas.