Physical Therapist Aides pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $48,360 or more. The middle half of physical therapist aides in Chicago earn between $35,320 and $38,090.
- $34K10th
- $35K25th
- $37KMedian
- $38K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,100 | $3,175 | $18.32 |
| Median | $36,730 | $3,061 | $17.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,320 | $2,943 | $16.98 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,090 | $3,174 | $18.31 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Physical Therapist Aides salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $38,100, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $31,048 a year, or $2,587 a month and $1,194 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 | $31,680 | $2,640 |
| Working in IL | $31,048 | $2,587 |
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 therapist aides? 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 $38,100 buys what about $36,778 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapist Aides salary in nearby metro areas
- Kenosha, WI$34,500
- Milwaukee, WI$38,540
- Kalamazoo, MI$28,250
- Madison, WI$38,390
- Grand Rapids, MI$34,280
- Fort Wayne, IN$33,150
Highest-paying cities for physical therapist aides
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,940).
- Anchorage, AK$57,940
- San Jose, CA$51,380
- Santa Cruz, CA$50,620
- San Francisco, CA$49,270
- Seattle, WA$47,620
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Physical Therapist Aides salary in Chicago: questions
How much do physical therapist aides make an hour in Chicago?
$18.32 an hour on average, and $17.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapist aides salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,320, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapist aides take-home pay in Chicago?
About $31,048 a year ($2,587 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,100.
Do physical therapist aides earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($36,880).
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 31-2022; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 0.39, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.39).
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