Physical Therapist Salary in Gurnee, IL: $101,533 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in Gurnee, IL earns a median $101,533/year (≈ $48.81/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in Gurnee's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $104,565 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.5% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, physical therapist salaries in Gurnee, Illinois, are projected to reach a median annual figure of $101,533. This compensation falls slightly below the national median of $105,288, emphasizing the local market dynamics for physical therapist pay in Gurnee IL. The salary range is estimated to be between $77,443 at the 10th percentile and $125,447 at the 90th percentile, reflecting a significant disparity that can be influenced by various factors such as productivity expectations, clinic type, and specialization. Given the projected growth rate of 2.46% annually, aspiring physical therapists should pay attention to local job opportunities and how these metrics translate to everyday practice expectations, including the average number of patient visits per day that drive effective hourly compensation.
About the Gurnee Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($96,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $77,443 | $37.23 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $84,830 | $40.78 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $101,533 | $48.81 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $115,864 | $55.71 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $125,447 | $60.31 |
Median Salary Position
3.57% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Gurnee
In Gurnee, IL, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $48,004 (2026 est.). At $101,533, the local median is 3.57% below the national median of $105,288.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Gurnee: You'd be above the median
How Gurnee Physical Therapist Pay Compares
Gurnee median: $101,533/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Gurnee Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $103,079 | -1.50% less |
| National Average | $105,288 | -3.57% less |
Physical Therapists in Gurnee, IL earn a median of $101,533 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.57% lower than the national median of $105,288 and 1.50% below the Illinois state average of $103,079.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Gurnee has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Gurnee, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist earning $101,533 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $104,565 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$86,250
2025 BLS Actual
$99,095
2026 Current Est.
$101,533
2019–2027 Growth
+20.6%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in Gurnee (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $86,250 | Actual |
| 2020 | $87,764 | Actual |
| 2021 | $92,210 | Actual |
| 2022 | $94,235 | Actual |
| 2023 | $96,154 | Actual |
| 2024 | $91,863 | Actual |
| 2025 | $99,095 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $101,533 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $104,030 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Gurnee metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew 14.9% from $86,250 (2019) to $99,095 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $104,030 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,780 (20.61%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Gurnee metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.46% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $77,443 – $84,830 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $84,830 – $101,533 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $101,533 – $115,864 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $115,864 – $125,447 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in Gurnee
Currently, Gurnee employs about eight physical therapists, a relatively small workforce that can heighten competition among practitioners in the area. With a cost-of-living index of 97.1, salaries may stretch further than in higher-cost regions, amplifying purchasing power for therapists and their families. Outpatient orthopedic clinics, particularly chains like ATI and Athletico, may offer competitive pay, but they're often coupled with high productivity expectations that can impact work-life balance. The spread between lower and higher salaries can depend largely on factors such as board certifications, which can command stipends, and the choice between cash-pay and insurance models that vary in reimbursement rates. For those looking to maximize physical therapist pay in Gurnee, securing specialized certifications, understanding the local job market, and potentially considering ownership equity in a practice might provide significant financial advantages.
More salary data for Gurnee, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapists make in Gurnee, IL in 2026?
Is Gurnee, IL a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Can physical therapists make $100K in Gurnee?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist salary in Gurnee?
How much does a physical therapist make per hour in Gurnee?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Illinois
Written by Alex Morgan, DPT
Career Analyst
Alex Morgan has over 10 years of experience in physical therapy. They specialize in orthopedic rehabilitation. Alex works in a private practice setting.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $99,095 for physical therapistsin the Gurnee metropolitan area. A 2.46% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Gurnee is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.46%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physical therapists (SOC 29-1123).
Compiled and verified by Alex Morgan, DPT, a licensed physical therapist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov