Physical Therapist Aides Salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
The median pay for a physical therapist aides in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $34,790/year ($16.73/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $41K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $33,584 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month — about 75.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $35K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level physical therapist aides (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $41K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapist Aides pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $44K | +28% | 90 |
| Alaska | $42K | +23% | 130 |
| Massachusetts | $38K | +10% | 530 |
| District of Columbia | $38K | +10% | 30 |
| Washington | $38K | +9% | 740 |
| Hawaii | $36K | +6% | 110 |
| Iowa | $36K | +6% | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $36K | +6% | 980 |
| North Dakota | $36K | +5% | 120 |
| California | $36K | +5% | 6,800 |
| New Jersey | $36K | +4% | 2,140 |
| Oregon | $36K | +4% | 920 |
| Ohio | $36K | +4% | 870 |
| Maine | $36K | +4% | 120 |
| New Mexico | $36K | +4% | 200 |
| Wisconsin | $36K | +3% | 670 |
| Connecticut | $35K | +2% | 630 |
| North Carolina | $35K | +2% | 780 |
| New York | $35K | +1% | 4,080 |
| Arizona | $35K | +1% | 1,840 |
| Montana | $35K | +1% | 110 |
| Illinois | $35K | +1% | 740 |
| South Dakota | $34K | -1% | 110 |
| New Hampshire | $34K | -1% | 140 |
| Florida | $34K | -3% | 1,260 |
| Rhode Island | $33K | -6% | 200 |
| Texas | $32K | -7% | 4,170 |
| Maryland | $31K | -9% | 1,030 |
| Georgia | $31K | -10% | 1,160 |
| South Carolina | $31K | -11% | 450 |
| Tennessee | $31K | -11% | 840 |
| Michigan | $30K | -13% | 1,560 |
| Delaware | $30K | -14% | 250 |
| Wyoming | $29K | -15% | 260 |
| Nevada | $29K | -15% | 640 |
| West Virginia | $29K | -15% | 160 |
| Indiana | $29K | -16% | 900 |
| Virginia | $29K | -16% | 1,050 |
| Kansas | $29K | -17% | 200 |
| Kentucky | $29K | -17% | 280 |
| Arkansas | $29K | -17% | 210 |
| Idaho | $29K | -17% | 610 |
| Missouri | $28K | -18% | 900 |
| Utah | $28K | -19% | 840 |
| Mississippi | $27K | -22% | 200 |
| Nebraska | $27K | -23% | 570 |
| Alabama | $25K | -27% | 730 |
| Oklahoma | $24K | -29% | 400 |
| Louisiana | $22K | -37% | 1,510 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track physical therapist aides salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare Support
Frequently asked questions
How much do physical therapist aides make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $34,790 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,550, and experienced physical therapist aides can clear $40,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,356/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 75.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a physical therapist aides salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physical therapist aides salary is worth about $33,584 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physical therapist aides get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.