Occupational Therapist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Occupational Therapists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $122,040 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $85,974 take-home, or $7,164 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median occupational therapist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,024
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,566
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,770
- California income tax$7,120
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,587
- Take-home pay$85,974
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Occupational Therapist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,840 | $39.83 | $62,556 | $5,213 |
| 25th percentile | $99,700 | $47.93 | $72,630 | $6,053 |
| Median (50th) | $122,040 | $58.67 | $85,974 | $7,164 |
| 75th percentile | $131,760 | $63.35 | $91,587 | $7,632 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $154,730 | $74.39 | $104,852 | $8,738 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $122,040 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median occupational therapist's $85,974 take-home pay has the buying power of $75,704 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Occupational Therapist jobs are less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for occupational therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 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 Los Angeles, CA?
The median occupational therapist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $122,040 a year, or about $58.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $99,700 and $131,760.
What is a occupational therapist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $122,040 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $85,974 a year ($7,164 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,707 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a occupational therapist?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $100,330. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $75,704 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a occupational therapist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median occupational therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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