PermanentPosted today
Occupational Therapist - Pediatrics
Select Medical · Naperville, IL
$35.00–$42.00/ hour
New this week
Occupational Therapist jobs in Chicago, IL
The median occupational therapist pay in the Chicago area is $48.53 per hour ($100,940 a year), with the typical range running from $38.53 to $52.51. 9 open roles with published pay are listed for Chicago and its metro area. The CMS hospital directory lists 33 hospitals in Chicago. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Chicago.
- $48.53median pay per hour, Chicago
- $39–$53typical range per hour
- 5,890occupational therapists employed in the metro area
- 9open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Occupational Therapist roles near Chicago
Roles in other cities of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area.
PermanentPosted today
Occupational Therapist
Select Medical · Naperville, IL
$70k–$82k/ year
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
25+ more Occupational Therapist roles for you in Chicago, IL
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted today
Occupational Therapist - Pediatrics
Select Medical · Libertyville, IL
$32.00–$35.00/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Occupational Therapist - Level IV
Silver Cross Hospital · New Lenox, IL
$55.00–$55.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Per diemPosted 9 days ago
PRN Occupational Therapist - Pediatrics
Select Medical · Crystal Lake, IL
$40.00–$45.00/ hour
PermanentPosted 9 days ago
Occupational Therapist
Select Medical · Crystal Lake, IL
$70k–$82k/ year
PermanentPosted 9 days ago
Occupational Therapist - Pediatrics
Select Medical · Crystal Lake, IL
$32.00–$38.00/ hour
PermanentPosted 16 days ago
Occupational Therapist-Home Care
OSF Healthcare System · Oak Lawn, IL
$44.21–$52.01/ hour
Top 25% pay
Per diemPosted 24 days ago
Occupational Therapist NICU PRN
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · New Lenox, IL
$37.00–$60.50/ hour
Top 25% pay
More open Occupational Therapist roles in Chicago
1 more open role from employers in Chicago. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Occupational Therapist - OT
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · Chicago, IL
Pay range with your report
New this week
Get the Chicago Occupational Therapist pay report
Named employers near Chicago, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring occupational therapists near Chicago
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Select Medical | 6 | $36.54 |
| Silver Cross Hospital | 1 | $55 |
| OSF Healthcare System | 1 | $48.11 |
| Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago | 1 | $48.75 |
Occupational Therapist pay in Chicago, IL
The metro median is 2% above the Illinois statewide median of $47.55 per hour. Nationally the median is $47.28 per hour. BLS counts about 5,890 occupational therapists employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area, 1.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.33).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $32.43 | $67,450 | 31% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $38.53 | $80,140 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Median | $48.53 | $100,940 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $52.51 | $109,220 | 11% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $61.99 | $128,940 | 31% above U.S. median |
How Chicago ranks
- 71st of 354 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 185th of 327 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st of 6 Illinois metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Occupational Therapists (SOC 29-1122), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Chicago
- Overall prices in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin run 4% above the U.S. average (index 103.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 12% above the U.S. average (index 112.0).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $48.53 median hour buys what $46.85 buys at the national price level, 1% below the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Estimate your Chicago paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,747
- Per year: $87,354
- Per month: $7,280
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Chicago
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $195 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,009 |
| 13-week assignment | $26,117 |
Travel occupational therapist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Hospitals in Chicago
CMS lists 33 hospitals in Chicago, 6 of the 22 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of occupational therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Memorial Hospital Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Rush University Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Jesse Brown Va Medical Center - Va Chicago Healthcare System Chicago, IL | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Presence Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| The University Of Chicago Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| University Of Illinois Hospital And Clinics Chicago, IL | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Amita Health Resurrection Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Presence Saints Mary And Elizabeth Medical Center Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Swedish Hospital Chicago, IL | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Occupational Therapist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cicero, IL | 4 mi | $48.53/hr | 82,090 |
| Berwyn, IL | 5 mi | $48.53/hr | 55,152 |
Occupational Therapist jobs in Illinois · Occupational Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Illinois
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Illinois requires for your role with the Illinois licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Illinois taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Chicago
Chicago city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do occupational therapists make in Chicago, IL?
Occupational Therapists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area have a median pay of $48.53 per hour, about $100,940 a year. The middle half earn between $38.53 and $52.51 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Chicago a good place for occupational therapists once cost of living is counted?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin ranks 185th of 327 metro areas for occupational therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 71st of 354 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring occupational therapists in Chicago?
We list 9 open roles with published pay from 4 employers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Chicago.
Do I need a Illinois license to work in Chicago as an occupational therapist?
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Illinois requires for your role with the Illinois licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Chicago?
The federal per diem benchmark in Chicago is $195 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,009 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place occupational therapists in Chicago?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Chicago and across Illinois. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Chicago.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Chicago pay occupational therapists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
120+ Occupational Therapist roles in Illinois, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your OT pay reportChicago, IL · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- MercyIllinois · 7 postings$45.71/ hr$34–$60
- Enhabit Home HealthBloomington, IL · 5 postings$44.47/ hr$26–$46
- Hospital Sisters Health SystemSpringfield, IL · 6 postings$42.76/ hr$34–$54
- OSF Healthcare SystemPekin, IL · 3 postings$42.58/ hr$39–$52
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$34Median$43.61High$55
34 OT postings with published pay in Illinois, 25 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 34 OT roles
- Occupational Therapist - PediatricsPermanent$35.00–$42.00/ hour
- Occupational TherapistPermanent$70k–$82k/ year
+ 32 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.