Travel PT, OT and SLP Jobs in Illinois
The 16 travel PT contracts open in Illinois today pay $2,130 to $2,370 a week gross, and the 20 travel OT contracts pay $2,130 to $2,280; every listing below shows its city, setting and start date. Illinois is not in the PT Compact, so a travel PT needs a full Illinois license before the start date.
ProTherapy Staffing has 59 open travel therapy contracts in Illinois — including 16 PT, 20 OT, 2 SLP, 13 PTA, 8 COTA positions. Every position comes with stipends that are non-taxable when you meet the IRS tax-home rules, an unlimited CEU subscription, and a recruiter you can text.
💬 Text us about these jobs — (828) 415-5285. Starts a conversation with a recruiter, not a subscription. Msg & data rates may apply. SMS Terms.
Travel Therapy in Illinois
Illinois is a strong mid-size travel therapy market anchored by Chicago metro demand, with consistent secondary pipeline in Springfield, Rockford, and central Illinois.
Current pay snapshot
Median advertised weekly gross across open Illinois contracts, stipends included, pay data as of 2026-10-05: PT $2,280 (15 contracts), OT $2,280 (21), PTA $1,400 (12), COTA $1,460 (8). SLP has fewer than the 5 open contracts a published median needs. Every listing on this page shows its own weekly pay. See travel PT pay in Illinois for the full breakdown.
License compact status
Illinois is not currently a PT Compact, OT Compact, or ASLP-IC member, though PT Compact legislation has been introduced. Travelers need full Illinois state licensure through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Processing typically runs 6–10 weeks; we assist with applications as part of placement.
Physical therapists can check which states issue PT Compact privileges, and anyone new to travel therapy can start with the travel therapy guide.
Top markets right now
Active openings cluster in Chicago, Naperville, Rockford, and Springfield. Setting mix is balanced across SNF, outpatient, and acute rehab. The Chicago metro area dominates inventory, though downstate openings can offer competitive rates due to harder-to-fill positions.
Tax and stipend considerations
Illinois has a flat 4.95% state income tax. Cook County (Chicago) has additional local taxes that affect overall take-home. Outside of Chicago metro, cost of living is moderate, making downstate Illinois assignments often more favorable on a take-home basis than the headline pay numbers suggest.
What makes Illinois distinctive
Illinois offers Chicago — one of the largest healthcare markets in the country — combined with significantly cheaper rural and small-city options downstate. The contrast within a single state is unusual and gives travelers flexibility to choose between high-volume urban work and slower-paced community settings. The licensing front-end is the main friction point.
Browse all travel therapy jobs nationwide or learn more about working with ProTherapy.