Physical Therapist Assistants pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,880 or more. The middle half of physical therapist assistants in Chicago earn between $61,930 and $75,870.
- $42K10th
- $62K25th
- $72KMedian
- $76K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $67,180 | $5,598 | $32.30 |
| Median | $72,230 | $6,019 | $34.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,930 | $5,161 | $29.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $75,870 | $6,322 | $36.48 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $67,180, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $52,907 a year, or $4,409 a month and $2,035 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 | $54,106 | $4,509 |
| Working in IL | $52,907 | $4,409 |
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 assistants? 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 $67,180 buys what about $64,849 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 3rd of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job; Springfield pays the most ($68,720).
- Springfield$68,720
- Kankakee$68,160
- Chicago$67,180
- Decatur$64,680
- Rockford$64,000
- Peoria$63,080
- Bloomington$60,390
- Champaign$58,600
Highest-paying cities for physical therapist assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($94,690).
- San Jose, CA$94,690
- San Francisco, CA$93,600
- Santa Cruz, CA$89,020
- Bakersfield, CA$87,150
- Santa Rosa, CA$86,840
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Physical Therapist Assistants salary in Chicago: questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make an hour in Chicago?
$32.30 an hour on average, and $34.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapist assistants salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,930, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapist assistants take-home pay in Chicago?
About $52,907 a year ($4,409 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $67,180.
Do physical therapist assistants earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. metro average for this job ($69,184).
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 31-2021; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- 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 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.