Physical Therapist Salary Chicago IL 2026: $96K Median
Physical therapist salary in Chicago, IL: $96,300 median, $79,180 entry estimate, $125,190 senior estimate, $46.30/hr equivalent, and take-home pay.
The estimated median Physical Therapist salary in Chicago, IL is $109,953 per year ($9,163/month, $53/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median) by the local cost of living index of 107, which is 7% above the national average.
Quick local answer for Chicago
In Chicago, an entry-level Physical Therapist is estimated at $90,415, the median estimate is $109,953, and a senior estimate is $142,952. After estimated 2026 federal tax, Illinois income tax, and FICA, the median salary leaves about $80,739 per year, or $6,728 per month.
Chicago physical therapist pay varies by outpatient clinic, hospital, home health, skilled nursing, pediatric, sports medicine, and travel-contract setting. The median estimate is the broad local anchor; compare offers against caseload expectations, productivity targets, weekend coverage, union or hospital system benefits, and CEU or loan-repayment support.
All four figures are Salario estimates (national benchmark scaled by Chicago's cost-of-living index); BLS does not publish a metro median for this title here.
Physical Therapist Take-Home Pay in Chicago
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $109,953 |
| Federal Tax | -$15,360 |
| State Tax (4.9% eff.) | -$5,443 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$8,411 |
| Annual Take-Home | $80,739 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $6,728 |
Living Cost Comparison
Physical Therapist Requirements
Key Skills
Physical Therapist salary search terms in Chicago
People comparing Physical Therapist pay in Chicago, IL may use related job-title wording. Salario keeps the main estimate tied to the Physical Therapist role, then treats the terms below as comparison phrases that should be checked for licensing, employer type, seniority, and role scope.
| Comparison point | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Primary local answer | $109,953 median salary, $90,415-$142,952 modeled range, and $80,739 estimated take-home pay in Chicago. |
| Title variants | physical therapy salary, PT salary, licensed physical therapist, rehabilitation therapist can point to similar searches, but some variants may represent a narrower specialty or a higher/lower seniority band. |
| Offer comparison | Compare base salary, hourly equivalent, take-home pay, certifications, local cost of living, and whether the job is employee, contractor, public-sector, commission-heavy, or management-level. |
Chicago Job Market Overview
Chicago, Illinois has a population of 2,696,555 and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. The top industries are Finance, Technology, Healthcare. The local job growth rate is 1.5%, and the average commute time is 35minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Related Healthcare Salaries in Chicago
Salary Percentile Breakdown: Physical Therapist in Chicago
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Physical Therapist in Chicago, IL, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $90,415 | $43/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $100,184 | $48/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $109,953 | $53/hr | Mid-career, 0-2 years |
| 75th | $142,952 | $69/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $170,986 | $82/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles are approximations, not measured local percentiles: P10, P50, P75, and P90 map to Salario's entry, median, senior, and top salary tiers scaled by the local cost-of-living index, and P25 is interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Chicago's Finance sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 15.0% salary growth for Physical Therapists over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Chicago estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Physical Therapist can expect a 12.1% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 4 years in Chicago. Negotiation, certifications (NPTE, State Licensure), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Chicago vs National Average
The national median Physical Therapist salary is $102,760 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Physical Therapists). In Chicago, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $109,953 is 7.0% above the national figure. This reflects Chicago's cost of living index of 107 (higher than the national average of 100).
For Physical Therapists, this means: rent typically consumes 26.0% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Chicago costs about 4.0× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Chicago.
Industry Context: Finance in Chicago
Chicago's economy is anchored by Finance, Technology, Healthcare, with 2,696,555 residents and an unemployment rate of 4.2% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Physical Therapists can differ by sector, so compare Finance employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 1.5%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 17.0% growth outlook for Physical Therapist roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Physical Therapist salaries in Chicago, IL:
- Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available (the national median is calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for Physical Therapists). For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Chicago index of 107 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), IL 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 5.0%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine, occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Chicago QuickFacts, population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary, 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, official local unemployment rates to verify the Chicago figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Physical Therapist salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Finance vs others in Chicago), specific skill set (Manual Therapy, Exercise Prescription, Gait Analysis), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Physical Therapist salary in Chicago, IL?
How much does a Physical Therapist take home in Chicago after taxes?
Is Chicago a good city for Physical Therapists?
What skills are needed for a Physical Therapist in Chicago?
How does Physical Therapist salary in Chicago compare to the national average?
What job titles are similar to Physical Therapist in Chicago?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Physical Therapist salary in Chicago, IL?
Salario estimates the median Physical Therapist salary in Chicago, IL at $109,953 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Physical Therapist benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 107, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $90,415, and the senior estimate is $142,952 or more.
How much does a Physical Therapist take home in Chicago after taxes?
A Physical Therapist earning the median salary of $109,953 in Chicago, IL takes home approximately $80,739 per year ($6,728/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 26.6%.
Is Chicago a good city for Physical Therapists?
Chicago, IL has a cost of living index of 107 (above national average). Physical Therapists here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 4.2% and top industries include Finance, Technology, Healthcare.
What skills are needed for a Physical Therapist in Chicago?
Key skills for Physical Therapists include Manual Therapy, Exercise Prescription, Gait Analysis, Pain Management, Rehabilitation. Typical education requirement is Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). Valuable certifications include NPTE, State Licensure, OCS Certification.
How does Physical Therapist salary in Chicago compare to the national average?
Salario's national median benchmark for Physical Therapist is $102,760 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Chicago, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $109,953, which is 7.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.
What job titles are similar to Physical Therapist in Chicago?
Related search terms for Physical Therapist in Chicago, IL include physical therapy salary, PT salary, licensed physical therapist, rehabilitation therapist. Use them as comparison terms, not always exact matches: licensing, employer type, seniority, public-sector rules, and whether the role is W-2, contractor, clinical, technical, management, or sales-focused can change the salary range.