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Physical therapist assistant salary in Illinois

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$65,240median pay per year in Illinois, or $31.37 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $41,600lowest 10% earn less
  2. $59,41025th percentile
  3. $65,240median
  4. $74,28075th percentile
  5. $81,890top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $68,380[3]

The median pay for physical therapist assistants in Illinois was $65,240 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $3,140 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in IL
4,890[4]
Rank by median pay
25 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−4.6%[6]

How much do physical therapist assistants make in Illinois?

The median is the middle point. Half of physical therapist assistants in Illinois earned more than $65,240 a year, or $31.37 an hour, and half earned less[1]. The average was a little higher at $65,810[7]. Across the US the median was $68,380, so Illinois sat $3,140 (4.6%) lower[3][6]. Illinois held the 25th spot out of the 50 states and DC for median pay in this job[5]. Compared with all jobs in the state, the median for this job was $13,280 higher than the $51,960 all-jobs median[8][9].

At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $41,600[2]. At the high end, the top-paid 10% earned more than $81,890[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $59,410 and $74,280[2].

Pay also changes by place inside the state. Among the 12 metro areas with a published median, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had the highest median at $72,230[10]. St. Louis, MO-IL came in at $65,820 and Peoria, IL at $61,120[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed, and it does not include bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

Illinois vs US pay

Pay for physical therapist assistants in Illinois next to the national figures[1][3].

ILUS
Median per year$65,240[1]$68,380[3]
Median per hour$31.37[1]$32.88[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$41,600[2]$47,750[13]
Top 10% earn more than$81,890[2]$89,510[13]
Jobs4,890[4]112,430[3]

Pay by metro area in Illinois

Metro areas in Illinois with the most jobs for physical therapist assistants, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN[11]$72,2303,520
St. Louis, MO-IL$65,8201,100
Peoria, IL$61,120160
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL$61,130140
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL$61,56090
Rockford, IL$64,04090
Bloomington, IL$59,59080
Champaign-Urbana, IL$61,43080

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for physical therapist assistants in the states that border Illinois, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Indiana[14]$65,2802,830
Wisconsin$64,0801,650
Missouri$63,7702,490
Kentucky$61,4802,580
Iowa$61,0301,060

Median pay for physical therapist assistants in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for physical therapist assistants are projected to grow 23% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a physical therapist assistant make in Illinois?
The median was $65,240 a year in May 2025, and the average was $65,810[1][7]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $41,600 and the top-paid 10% earned more than $81,890[2].
How much does a physical therapist assistant make an hour in Illinois?
The median hourly wage was $31.37[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $20.00 an hour, and the top-paid 10% earned more than $39.37[2][17].
Which city in Illinois pays physical therapist assistants the most?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had the highest median among the 12 metro areas with a published figure, at $72,230[10]. This metro area crosses state lines and is counted as a whole[11].
Is Illinois a good state for physical therapist assistants?
Illinois had the 25th highest median annual wage for this job out of the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median was 4.6% lower than the US median and $13,280 higher than the all-jobs median in the state[6][9].
What do you need to become a physical therapist assistant in Illinois?
Across the US, the typical entry path is an associate's degree, with no related work experience and no on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not one for Illinois.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Illinois was $65,240 per year and $31.37 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in Illinois: 10th percentile $41,600, 25th percentile $59,410, 75th percentile $74,280, 90th percentile $81,890. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in the US as a whole was $68,380 per year and $32.88 per hour, with about 112,430 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 4,890 people worked as Physical Therapist Assistants in Illinois (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Illinois had the 25th highest median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Illinois ($65,240) was $3,140 (4.6%) lower than the US median ($68,380). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Illinois was $65,810 per year and $31.64 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Illinois was $51,960. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Illinois was $13,280 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($51,960). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 12 metro areas in or partly in Illinois with a published median for Physical Therapist Assistants, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had the highest median annual wage, $72,230. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in the US: 10th percentile $47,750, 25th percentile $59,820, 75th percentile $78,680, 90th percentile $89,510. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in states that border Illinois (highest first): Indiana $65,280; Wisconsin $64,080; Missouri $63,770; Kentucky $61,480; Iowa $61,030. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Physical Therapist Assistants is projected to grow 23% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 18,500 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Physical Therapist Assistants: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in Illinois: 10th percentile $20.00, 25th percentile $28.56, 75th percentile $35.71, 90th percentile $39.37. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Illinois. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.