Occupational Therapist Salary in Chicago, IL
Occupational Therapists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $99,860 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,283 take-home, or $6,190 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median occupational therapist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,139
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,191
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,448
- Illinois income tax$4,798
- Take-home pay$74,283
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Occupational Therapist pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,900 | $35.53 | $57,305 | $4,775 |
| 25th percentile | $82,390 | $39.61 | $62,858 | $5,238 |
| Median (50th) | $99,860 | $48.01 | $74,283 | $6,190 |
| 75th percentile | $111,170 | $53.45 | $81,680 | $6,807 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,160 | $65.46 | $97,736 | $8,145 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $99,860 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median occupational therapist's $74,283 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,705 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.3× the national concentration of occupational therapist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for occupational therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 10 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $103,580 | $81,699 | $82,834 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX | $106,110 | $83,478 | $80,976 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $103,140 | $78,223 | $76,275 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,040 | $85,974 | $75,704 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $99,860 | $74,283 | $71,705 |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $101,480 | $80,221 | $70,274 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $101,940 | $75,668 | $69,891 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $102,960 | $75,479 | $69,321 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 10 metros →
About the job: occupational therapists
Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual’s environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +14.8% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a occupational therapist make in Chicago, IL?
The median occupational therapist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $99,860 a year, or about $48.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,390 and $111,170.
What is a occupational therapist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $99,860 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $74,283 a year ($6,190 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,798 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a occupational therapist?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $100,330. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,705 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a occupational therapist afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median occupational therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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