Physical Therapists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $85,220 a year or less, while the top 10% make $142,320 or more. The middle half of physical therapists in Chicago earn between $98,120 and $123,720.
- $85K10th
- $98K25th
- $106KMedian
- $124K75th
- $142K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $110,460 | $9,205 | $53.11 |
| Median | $105,720 | $8,810 | $50.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $98,120 | $8,177 | $47.17 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $123,720 | $10,310 | $59.48 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Physical therapists in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($109,080) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($105,280). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $102,760.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $110,460 | $105,720 | $85,220 | $142,320 | 7,880 |
| Illinois | $109,080 | $105,250 | $83,000 | $140,410 | 9,800 |
| United States | $105,280 | $102,760 | $77,140 | $135,140 | 267,330 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physical Therapists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $110,460, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $81,212 a year, or $6,768 a month and $3,124 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $83,255 | $6,938 |
| Working in IL | $81,212 | $6,768 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for physical therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $110,460 buys what about $106,627 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 3rd of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job; Decatur pays the most ($121,330).
- Decatur$121,330
- Springfield$111,740
- Chicago$110,460
- Kankakee$104,790
- Peoria$103,650
- Rockford$103,440
- Bloomington$100,380
- Champaign$100,260
Highest-paying cities for physical therapists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($145,040).
- San Francisco, CA$145,040
- San Jose, CA$140,090
- Napa, CA$136,360
- Santa Rosa, CA$135,520
- Vallejo, CA$132,660
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Physical Therapists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do physical therapists make an hour in Chicago?
$53.11 an hour on average, and $50.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $85,220 a year and the 25th percentile is $98,120, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $81,212 a year ($6,768 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $110,460.
Do physical therapists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. average for this job ($105,280).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1123; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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