Physical Therapist Aide Salary in Chicago, IL
Physical Therapist Aides in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $36,730 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,019 take-home, or $2,502 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physical therapist aide salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,228
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,277
- Medicare (1.45%)$533
- Illinois income tax$1,673
- Take-home pay$30,019
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Physical Therapist Aide pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,570 | $16.14 | $27,637 | $2,303 |
| 25th percentile | $35,320 | $16.98 | $28,956 | $2,413 |
| Median (50th) | $36,730 | $17.66 | $30,019 | $2,502 |
| 75th percentile | $38,090 | $18.31 | $31,045 | $2,587 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,360 | $23.25 | $38,788 | $3,232 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,730 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physical therapist aide's $30,019 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,977 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Physical Therapist Aide jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.39), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for physical therapist aides, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 18 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $44,440 | $36,543 | $31,608 |
| 2 | Riverside, CA | $38,440 | $32,040 | $30,101 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $35,570 | $30,760 | $29,838 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $33,060 | $28,744 | $29,143 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $36,730 | $30,019 | $28,977 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,010 | $29,644 | $28,693 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $37,440 | $30,611 | $28,274 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $37,850 | $31,597 | $28,240 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 18 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist aide make in Chicago, IL?
The median physical therapist aide salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $36,730 a year, or about $17.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,320 and $38,090.
What is a physical therapist aide’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $36,730 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $30,019 a year ($2,502 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,673 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a physical therapist aide?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $35,240. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,977 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 18 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physical therapist aide afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median physical therapist aide’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Physical Therapist Assistant — $72,230
- Occupational Therapy Assistant — $67,840
- Massage Therapist — $61,200
- Dental Assistant — $48,950
- Medical Equipment Preparer — $48,630
- Healthcare Support Workers, All Other — $48,440
- Medical Assistant — $47,270
- Phlebotomist — $47,190
- Nursing Assistant — $46,940
- Orderly — $39,640
- Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker — $39,280
- Medical Transcriptionist — $38,700