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.
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At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?
Rehabilitation Services at Northwestern Medicine is a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team within our growing, nationally recognized health system that provides world-class care at 10 hospitals and more than 200 locations in communities throughout Chicago, the suburbs and northern Illinois. Together with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, we are pushing boundaries in innovative care delivery, training the next generation of rehabilitation specialists, and pursuing excellence in patient care.
Rehabilitation Services values building relationships with our patients and their families, understanding the needs of our clinical and non-clinical staff, and providing opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and program development. Our integration with hospitals and clinics across Northwestern Medicine make it possible for us to serve more patients, closer to where they live and work. While each of our locations has a unique story, Rehabilitation Services at Northwestern Medicine is unified under one mission – Patients First.
Please note- This float locations role includes an additional $10/hour pay differential, increasing the overall compensation.
This role will float between the following Outpatient Rehab Clinics: Aurora, Batavia, DeKalb, Geneva, Genoa, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Sycamore
Job Description
The Physical Therapist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.
- A licensed physical therapist who complies with the Code of Ethics/Standards of Practice as outlined by their professional organization and by the State of Illinois.
- The position includes direct patient care, teaching, participation on appropriate committees and departmental process improvement.
- Serves as a role model for all therapists and clinical interns in all aspects of professional, clinical, communication, education and leadership activities.
Responsibilities:
- Demonstrates the four NM values of teamwork, patients first, integrity, and excellence in daily work and interactions.
- Presents a friendly, approachable, professional demeanor and appearance.
- Provides accurate information and timely updates to patients and customers. Addresses questions and concerns promptly or identifies appropriate person and resources to do so. Provides directions to help patients and customers with finding their way.
- Uses effective service recovery skills to solve problems or service breakdowns when they occur.
- Maintains primary responsibility over patient plan of care through timely and consistent collaboration with treating PT/ PTA s.
- Demonstrates teamwork by helping co-workers within and across departments. Communicates effectively with others, respects diverse opinions and styles, and acknowledges the assistance and contributions of others.
- Uses organizational and unit/department resources efficiently.
- Manages work schedule efficiently, completing tasks and assignments on time.
- Contributes to opportunities and processes for continuous improvement.
- Participates in efforts to reduce costs, streamline work processes, improve and grow services we provide.
- Demonstrates creative problem solving and diversity when adapting the treatment to special circumstances as evidence by team feedback and documentation.
- Demonstrates essential skill competencies in selecting the appropriate evaluation in the use of treatment modalities, equipment and protocols. Performs re-evaluations according to department guidelines, adjusting the treatment plan accordingly. Evidenced by chart review.
- Assumes complete responsibility over the course of physical therapist patient management from the time of initial contact to discharge for functional progress, safety and treatment outcome as evidenced by team feedback and documentation. Maintains primary responsibility over patient plans of care through timely and consistent collaboration with treating PTA(s).
- Adheres to department policy regarding evaluations, progress notes, and discharge summaries. All notes are documented in electronic medical record (EMR).
- Completes daily notes that reflect patient’s response to treatment, actual performance, and an assessment as to status, relevant to the treatment plan and eventual discharge needs as evidenced by chart review, meeting all documentation requirements (e.g., allows other therapists to continue treatment, allows for interpretation by payers, supports reimbursement).
- Provides educational materials and methods appropriate to the patient’s level of understanding and motivation as evidenced by chart review, observation and team feedback.
- Participates in committees, department processes and special projects in accordance with clinical expertise and individual performance plan.
- Works to develop and maintain professional relationships with members of healthcare teams (ex: physician, nurse, case manager). Participates in internal and external marketing per department expectations.
- Creates a culture of respectful communication by listening, asking for team member input, open and honest conversation, approachability, and timely acknowledgement of individual and team contributions.
- Accepts constructive feedback and can make timely changes as evidenced by written coaching forms/chart audits and team feedback.
- Proactively completes non-patient care responsibilities within established timelines (coverage notes, PTO/schedule change requests, bonus pay (forms and follow up phone calls).
- Contributes to educational efforts of department/clinic (e.g., in-services, journal clubs, new hire orientation, PI) as per department expectations.
- Actively participates in student clinical or observation programs by serving as a clinical instructor, mentor, or observation host as per department expectations
- Maintains productivity standards per department expectations
- Demonstrates willingness to flex schedule or assignment to meet patient care needs, staff meetings and department specific meetings outside of normal work hours.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy.
- Licensed Physical Therapist in State of Illinois
- BLS from American Heart Association upon hire
Preferred:
- Masters or Doctoral Degree in Physical Therapy
Additional Information
Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.
Background Check
Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events.
Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information https://jobs.nm.org/benefits
Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.
If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.
See All 7 Orthopedic Physical Therapist Jobs in Illinois
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Find JobsOrthopedic Physical Therapist Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Orthopedic Physical Therapist Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



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
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