How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Chicago, IL in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Chicago, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Illinois.
BLS OES May 2025 · Chicago · Naperville · Elgin metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Chicago, Illinois earns $50.83 per hour, or $105,720 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,810 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $85,220, and the top 10% of earners make over $142,320.
That pay is right at the Illinois figure of $105,250 and 3% above the national figure of $102,760. Chicago ranks 3rd of 9 metro areas in Illinois for Physical Therapist pay. About 7,880 Physical Therapists work in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area.
Physical Therapist pay in Chicago at a glance
- Typical pay is $50.83 an hour, or $105,720 a year.
- That is right at the Illinois figure, ranking 3rd of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $85,220; the top 10% make over $142,320.
- Typical pay rose +20% from 2015 to 2025, against +22% for Illinois as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Chicago?
Pay in Chicago runs from entry-level positions at around $40.97 an hour to more than $68.42 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Illinois and national figures.
Physical Therapist pay by career stage in Chicago
| Career stage | Chicago | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $85,220$40.97 an hour | $83,000$39.90 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $98,120$47.17 an hour | $95,940$46.13 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $105,720$50.83 an hour | $105,250$50.60 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $123,720$59.48 an hour | $122,920$59.10 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $142,320$68.42 an hour | $140,410$67.51 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Chicago
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Chicago was $87,740 a year. By 2025 it had reached $105,720, a change of +20%, compared with +22% for Illinois over the same years.
How Chicago compares with other Illinois cities
Decatur pays Physical Therapists the most in Illinois at $125,600 a year, $19,880 more than Chicago. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bloomington at $97,250.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chicago | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decatur | $125,600 | $60.39 | +19% | 40 |
| 2 | Springfield | $115,990 | $55.76 | +10% | 150 |
| 3 | Chicago | $105,720 | $50.83 | this city | 7,880 |
| 4 | Rockford | $101,340 | $48.72 | -4% | 190 |
| 5 | Kankakee | $99,770 | $47.97 | -6% | 60 |
| 6 | Rock Island metro incl. Moline | $99,410 | $47.80 | -6% | 280 |
| 7 | Peoria | $98,860 | $47.53 | -6% | 300 |
| 8 | Urbana metro incl. Champaign | $97,840 | $47.04 | -7% | 140 |
| 9 | Bloomington | $97,250 | $46.76 | -8% | 100 |
Every metro area in Illinois with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $105,250
Is Chicago a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapist pay in Chicago sits close to the national figure: $105,720 a year, 3% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area, about 1.7 are Physical Therapist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.7. Physical Therapist jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physical Therapist make in Chicago, IL?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Chicago earns $105,720 a year, or $50.83 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $85,220 and the top 10% earn over $142,320.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Chicago?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Chicago is $50.83. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $40.97, and the top 10% earn over $68.42 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Chicago?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Chicago typically offer around $40.97 an hour, or $85,220 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Chicago higher than in the rest of Illinois?
- Chicago pay is right at the Illinois figure of $105,250 a year, ranking 3rd of 9 metro areas in the state. Decatur pays the most in Illinois at $125,600.