Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Kankakee, IL: $66,733 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Kankakee, IL earns a median $66,733/year (≈ $32.08/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Kankakee's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.4), that paycheck buys what $69,229 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.7% above the Illinois state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, physical therapist assistants in Kankakee, Illinois, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $66,733. This salary reflects the competitive nature of the healthcare field in the region, where practitioners work under state regulations and contribute to Medicare-reliant settings. The compensation range for this role spans from $59,553 at the 10th percentile to $82,831 at the 90th percentile. With this median figure being around 5% lower than the national average of $70,247, it's clear that local salary dynamics may influence career decisions for aspiring physical therapist assistants. As Kankakee continues to develop its healthcare infrastructure, there may be opportunities for increased compensation alongside the anticipated growth rate of 2.73% in local jobs over the next five years.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $59,553 | $28.63 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $63,765 | $30.65 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $66,733 | $32.08 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $82,831 | $39.83 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $82,831 | $39.83 |
Median Salary Position
5% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Kankakee
In Kankakee, IL, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $23,278 (2026 est.). At $66,733, the local median is 5% below the national median of $70,247.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Kankakee: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Kankakee Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Kankakee median: $66,733/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Kankakee Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $66,270 | +0.70% more |
| National Average | $70,247 | -5.00% less |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Kankakee, IL earn a median of $66,733 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.00% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 0.70% above the Illinois state average of $66,270.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Kankakee has a cost of living 3.61% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Kankakee, IL has a cost-of-living index of 96.394 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $66,733 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $69,229 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.74% 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
$57,780
2025 BLS Actual
$64,960
2026 Current Est.
$66,733
2019–2027 Growth
+18.6%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Kankakee (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $57,780 | Actual |
| 2020 | $56,781 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,110 | Actual |
| 2022 | $59,631 | Actual |
| 2023 | $60,875 | Actual |
| 2024 | $62,234 | Actual |
| 2025 | $64,960 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $66,733 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $68,555 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kankakee metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 12.4% from $57,780 (2019) to $64,960 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $68,555 by 2027 — a total increase of $10,775 (18.65%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kankakee 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 2.73% 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) | $59,553 – $63,765 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $63,765 – $66,733 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $66,733 – $82,831 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $82,831 – $82,831 |
PTA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Assistant Job Market in Kankakee
The job market in Kankakee currently employs about 40 physical therapist assistants, positioning itself as a stable workforce segment in a more affordable cost-of-living environment, with a CoL index of 96.394. This offers local PTAs relatively strong purchasing power compared to national averages. Among employers, outpatient orthopedic clinics typically offer higher pay than skilled nursing facilities or home health agencies. Factors contributing to salary variations include expectations of productivity, the necessity for weekend work or PRN shifts, and the supervision requirements dictated by state law. Additionally, the Medicare reimbursement cuts impacting PTA-provided services, particularly in skilled nursing and outpatient settings, have created discrepancies in pay. To maximize earning potential in Kankakee, it’s recommended that physical therapist assistants seek opportunities in outpatient settings, pursue advanced certifications, and consider pathways to transition from PTA to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, potentially enhancing their career trajectory.
More salary data for Kankakee, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Kankakee, IL in 2026?
Is Kankakee, IL a good place to work as a physical therapist assistant?
Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in Kankakee?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist assistant salary in Kankakee?
How much does a physical therapist assistant make per hour in Kankakee?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Illinois
Written by Jordan Lee, DPT
Career Analyst
Jordan has 10 years of experience in outpatient physical therapy. They specialize in orthopedic rehabilitation. Jordan 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 $64,960 for physical therapist assistantsin the Kankakee metropolitan area. A 2.73% 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
Source: BLS, OEWS, 3-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.73%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physical therapist assistants (SOC 31-2021).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, DPT, a licensed physical therapist assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov