Physical Therapist Assistant salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Physical Therapist Assistants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $72,230 a year ($34.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,880 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $68,380. Pay here is 11% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $65,240. There are 0.78 physical therapist assistants per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $67,180, close to the median.
Pay range for physical therapist assistants in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| 25th percentile | $61,930 | $29.77 |
| Median | $72,230 | $34.73 |
| 75th percentile | $75,870 | $36.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $82,880 | $39.85 |
| Average (mean) | $67,180 | $32.30 |
Half of physical therapist assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,019.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,009.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,778.08 |
| Weekly | $1,389.04 |
| Hourly | $34.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $72,230 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Physical Therapist Assistant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $69,050 | 1,040 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $66,760 | 50 |
| Springfield, IL | $66,390 | 70 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $66,300 | 110 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $65,820 | 1,100 |
| Decatur, IL | $65,210 | 40 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $65,170 | 930 |
| Kankakee, IL | $64,960 | 40 |
| Rockford, IL | $64,040 | 90 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $63,860 | 50 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $62,360 | 230 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $62,030 | 110 |
| Evansville, IN | $61,860 | 150 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $61,830 | 750 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $61,560 | 90 |
| Bloomington, IN | $61,460 | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $61,430 | 80 |
| Columbus, IN | $61,140 | 40 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $61,130 | 140 |
| Peoria, IL | $61,120 | 160 |
| Bloomington, IL | $59,590 | 80 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $58,720 | 60 |
| Muncie, IN | $57,940 | 40 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $51,000 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for physical therapist assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $83,110 |
| Massachusetts | $79,460 |
| New Jersey | $78,440 |
| Texas | $78,000 |
| Maryland | $77,670 |
| Alaska | $77,640 |
| Connecticut | $75,880 |
| Nevada | $75,520 |
| Delaware | $74,610 |
| Virginia | $73,760 |
See Physical Therapist Assistant pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $67,840 | $32.61 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| Occupational Therapy Aide | $43,270 | $20.81 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $38,180 | $18.36 |
| Nursing Assistant | $46,940 | $22.57 |
| Medical Assistant | $47,270 | $22.73 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,950 | $23.53 |
| Phlebotomist | $47,190 | $22.69 |
| Massage Therapist | $61,200 | $29.42 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $39,280 | $18.88 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $48,630 | $23.38 |
| Orderly | $39,640 | $19.06 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,440 | $23.29 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $37,010 | $17.79 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-2021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist assistant make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for physical therapist assistants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $72,230 a year, or $34.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $82,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physical therapist assistants make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of physical therapist assistants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $82,880 a year. The top 25% earn $75,870 or more.
What is the starting pay for physical therapist assistants in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,600 a year, and a quarter of physical therapist assistants earn $61,930 or less.
How many physical therapist assistants work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 3,520 physical therapist assistants are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.