Orthopedic Physical Therapist Jobs in Illinois

Orthopedic Physical Therapist jobs in Illinois draw consistent demand across hospital systems, outpatient orthopedic clinics, sports medicine centers, and post-acute rehabilitation settings, with openings at every level from new graduate through senior clinician. Chicago, Naperville, and Peoria are the state's busiest hiring markets, anchored by large employers such as Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Health Care, and OSF HealthCare. The most in-demand specialties in Illinois include sports rehabilitation, post-surgical joint care, and spine-focused outpatient practice. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Jobs

Overview

Open roles7
Top employerNorthwestern Medicine
Top cityNiles, IL
Cities hiring7
Work type100% On-site
Top credentialDoctoral degree

Showing 4 of 7+ Orthopedic Physical Therapist jobs

Outpatient Physical Therapist Float Locations-Orthopedic Full-time
We won't show you this job again
Added 6d ago
Outpatient Physical Therapist Float Locations-Orthopedic Full-time
Northwestern Medicine
Geneva, Illinois
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
Physical Therapy
$44.72 - $58.13/hr
Doctoral degree
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Outpatient Physical Therapist-Orthopedic Full-time
We won't show you this job again
Added 1w ago
Outpatient Physical Therapist-Orthopedic Full-time
Northwestern Medicine
Warrenville, Illinois
Healthcare Administration
Nursing
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$45.23 - $61.06/hr
Doctoral degree
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Outpatient Physical Therapist-Orthopedic Full-time
We won't show you this job again
Added 1w ago
Outpatient Physical Therapist-Orthopedic Full-time
Northwestern Medicine
Bartlett, Illinois
Healthcare Administration
Nursing
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$45.23 - $61.06/hr
Doctoral degree
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Physical Therapy- Outpatient Orthopedic- Registry
We won't show you this job again
Added 3w ago
Physical Therapy- Outpatient Orthopedic- Registry
Shirley Ryan Ability Lab
Chicago, Illinois
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
CPR Certification

Have you applied for this role?

See All 7 Orthopedic Physical Therapist Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Jobs

Orthopedic Physical Therapist Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Niles
1 job
Geneva
1 job
Chicago
1 job
Bartlett
1 job
Oak Lawn
1 job
Deerfield
1 job
Warrenville
1 job

Orthopedic Physical Therapist Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Northwestern Medicine3 open roles
Advocate Aurora Health1 open role
Shirley Ryan Ability Lab1 open role

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in orthopedic physical therapist jobs across Illinois.

  • Active Illinois Physical Therapist license issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
  • Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from a CAPTE-accredited program required
  • Board certification as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist through ABPTS strongly preferred
  • Minimum one to three years of orthopedic or musculoskeletal clinical experience preferred
  • Proficiency with manual therapy techniques, therapeutic exercise, and functional movement assessment
  • Experience documenting in electronic health record systems such as Epic or Clinicient

Orthopedic Physical Therapist Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a orthopedic physical therapist in Illinois?

You must earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy from a CAPTE-accredited program and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination, then apply for licensure through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Illinois does not participate in the PT Compact, so out-of-state therapists must apply for a full Illinois license. Pursuing board certification as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties significantly strengthens your candidacy for orthopedic-focused roles.

How much do orthopedic physical therapists make in Illinois?

Orthopedic physical therapists in Illinois earn a median of about $105,250 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $83,000 for the lowest 10% to over $140,410 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire orthopedic physical therapists in Illinois?

Employers hiring orthopedic physical therapists in Illinois right now include Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Aurora Health, and Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Illinois's dense concentration of large integrated health systems and specialty orthopedic groups means consistent openings across both inpatient and outpatient settings throughout the state.

Which Illinois cities have the most orthopedic physical therapist jobs?

Niles, Geneva, and Chicago account for the most orthopedic physical therapist openings in Illinois. The Chicago metro drives the bulk of demand through its major academic medical centers and sports medicine networks, while secondary markets like Naperville and Peoria reflect the outpatient clinic growth tied to suburban population expansion and large regional health systems such as OSF HealthCare and Edward-Elmhurst Health.

Are there remote orthopedic physical therapist jobs in Illinois?

Yes, but they're rare. Orthopedic physical therapy is a hands-on clinical discipline that requires in-person patient care, so fully remote positions are uncommon. About 0% of orthopedic physical therapist openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those roles typically involve telehealth follow-up visits, clinical education, or care coordination rather than direct hands-on treatment.

How can I get hired as a orthopedic physical therapist in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is completing an orthopedic or general PT residency program, several of which are offered through Illinois institutions including Northwestern Medicine and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. New graduates can also apply directly to outpatient orthopedic clinics that hire at the staff PT level and provide structured mentorship. Lateral entry from sports medicine aide or physical therapy technician roles at Illinois health systems is another common stepping stone, and holding your Illinois DFPR license on day one removes a common hiring delay.

Where can I find and apply to orthopedic physical therapist jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to orthopedic physical therapist jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings from employers across the state. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialty focus and apply directly to the ones that match.

See All 7 Orthopedic Physical Therapist Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Jobs