Physical Therapist Assistant salary in Illinois
Physical Therapist Assistants in Illinois earn a median of $65,240 a year ($31.37 an hour), based on BLS data for 4,890 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,890 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $68,380. Illinois ranks 25th of 51 states for physical therapist assistants pay. There are 0.80 physical therapist assistants per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $65,810, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physical therapist assistants in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| 25th percentile | $59,410 | $28.56 |
| Median | $65,240 | $31.37 |
| 75th percentile | $74,280 | $35.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,890 | $39.37 |
| Average (mean) | $65,810 | $31.64 |
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 | $5,436.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,718.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,509.23 |
| Weekly | $1,254.62 |
| Hourly | $31.37 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physical Therapist Assistant salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $72,230 | 3,520 |
| Springfield, IL | $66,390 | 70 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $65,820 | 1,100 |
| Decatur, IL | $65,210 | 40 |
| Kankakee, IL | $64,960 | 40 |
| Rockford, IL | $64,040 | 90 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $61,560 | 90 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $61,430 | 80 |
| 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 |
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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $64,120 | $30.83 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $36,650 | $17.62 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $38,060 | $18.30 |
| Nursing Assistant | $45,960 | $22.10 |
| Medical Assistant | $46,090 | $22.16 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| Phlebotomist | $46,010 | $22.12 |
| Massage Therapist | $60,490 | $29.08 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $37,480 | $18.02 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $48,050 | $23.10 |
| Orderly | $39,450 | $18.97 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $37,010 | $17.79 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $45,490 | $21.87 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for physical therapist assistants in Illinois is $65,240 a year, or $31.37 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,890 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physical therapist assistants make in Illinois?
The top 10% of physical therapist assistants in Illinois earn at least $81,890 a year. The top 25% earn $74,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for physical therapist assistants in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,600 a year, and a quarter of physical therapist assistants earn $59,410 or less.
How many physical therapist assistants work in Illinois?
About 4,890 physical therapist assistants are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.