Occupational Therapist Salary
Occupational Therapists earn a median $100,330 a year nationally. Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
What occupational therapists do
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)
- Openings per year
- 10,000
- Self-employed
- 3%
Employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 14.8% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 10,000 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Occupational Therapist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,243
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,220
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,455
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$79,412
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,690 | $34.47 | $59,264 |
| 25th percentile | $82,510 | $39.67 | $66,876 |
| Median (50th) | $100,330 | $48.24 | $79,412 |
| 75th percentile | $116,670 | $56.09 | $90,907 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,950 | $63.44 | $101,454 |
Best cities for occupational therapists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $103,580 | $81,699 | $82,834 | 2,700 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX | $106,110 | $83,478 | $80,976 | 3,450 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $103,140 | $78,223 | $76,275 | 3,410 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,040 | $85,974 | $75,704 | 4,950 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $99,860 | $74,283 | $71,705 | 5,960 |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $101,480 | $80,221 | $70,274 | 2,550 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $101,940 | $75,668 | $69,891 | 4,790 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $102,960 | $75,479 | $69,321 | 2,640 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $101,460 | $75,261 | $66,861 | 11,640 |
| 10 | Minneapolis, MN | $93,600 | $69,836 | $66,624 | 2,590 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Los Angeles, CA — $122,040
- Dallas, TX — $106,110
- Houston, TX — $103,580
- Philadelphia, PA — $103,140
- Washington, DC — $102,960
- Boston, MA — $101,940
- Miami, FL — $101,480
- New York, NY — $101,460
- Chicago, IL — $99,860
- Minneapolis, MN — $93,600
Occupational Therapist salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $124,510 | +4.2% | $87,400 | $85,550 – $158,560 | 13,810 |
| Oregon | $112,310 | +5.1% | $78,843 | $78,500 – $131,340 | 1,170 |
| Nevada | $110,520 | +5.5% | $86,581 | $85,720 – $139,260 | 1,080 |
| District of Columbia | $109,170 | +10.0% | $79,320 | $81,760 – $129,810 | 540 |
| Washington | $107,670 | +5.2% | $84,576 | $83,110 – $135,290 | 3,340 |
| Maryland | $106,980 | +5.0% | $79,371 | $76,650 – $132,300 | 2,390 |
| Colorado | $106,720 | +2.6% | $79,920 | $81,390 – $157,820 | 3,390 |
| Arkansas | $106,360 | +7.1% | $79,719 | $65,160 – $144,250 | 2,160 |
| Texas | $106,140 | +4.3% | $83,499 | $76,350 – $135,200 | 13,400 |
| Oklahoma | $104,300 | +0.8% | $78,057 | $68,530 – $134,420 | 1,180 |
| Georgia | $104,010 | +5.4% | $77,226 | $75,290 – $128,610 | 3,650 |
| Alaska | $103,680 | +3.6% | $81,769 | $82,320 – $133,860 | 410 |
| Arizona | $103,660 | +1.4% | $79,372 | $78,160 – $131,950 | 2,680 |
| New Jersey | $103,410 | +0.1% | $77,182 | $78,690 – $159,230 | 6,290 |
| Hawaii | $102,870 | +8.8% | $74,911 | $78,670 – $118,240 | 390 |
| Connecticut | $102,440 | +0.4% | $76,837 | $76,360 – $127,630 | 3,150 |
| Delaware | $102,130 | +6.3% | $75,279 | $71,280 – $138,640 | 490 |
| South Carolina | $101,130 | +3.9% | $75,064 | $75,370 – $123,110 | 1,840 |
| Massachusetts | $100,930 | +2.6% | $75,008 | $73,140 – $127,380 | 6,510 |
| Virginia | $100,710 | +0.2% | $74,703 | $70,200 – $134,570 | 4,150 |
| Rhode Island | $100,040 | +0.9% | $76,058 | $75,760 – $126,630 | 770 |
| Illinois | $99,700 | +0.8% | $74,179 | $73,360 – $132,180 | 7,710 |
| Ohio | $99,390 | +3.7% | $76,800 | $70,080 – $123,800 | 6,760 |
| Florida | $99,360 | +0.3% | $78,730 | $66,230 – $117,950 | 10,650 |
| Kansas | $99,170 | +2.2% | $73,862 | $66,720 – $120,950 | 1,560 |
| New Mexico | $99,170 | −0.1% | $75,068 | $69,230 – $133,050 | 1,030 |
| Louisiana | $98,490 | +4.7% | $75,549 | $61,070 – $126,630 | 2,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,440 | +4.6% | $75,060 | $69,120 – $128,790 | 6,560 |
| Idaho | $97,760 | +10.5% | $73,531 | $69,440 – $152,880 | 840 |
| Tennessee | $97,700 | +1.7% | $77,562 | $68,520 – $119,070 | 2,490 |
| Kentucky | $97,650 | +7.0% | $74,227 | $71,030 – $119,250 | 2,190 |
| Missouri | $97,290 | +3.9% | $73,638 | $71,880 – $120,130 | 3,400 |
| Utah | $97,150 | +4.1% | $73,769 | $75,570 – $126,970 | 1,030 |
| Indiana | $97,020 | +3.8% | $74,251 | $69,550 – $119,950 | 3,830 |
| New York | $96,390 | +1.1% | $71,994 | $64,770 – $133,700 | 11,690 |
| West Virginia | $96,190 | +3.1% | $72,798 | $60,870 – $129,460 | 700 |
| Mississippi | $94,930 | +2.8% | $72,548 | $73,200 – $113,950 | 1,340 |
| Alabama | $94,050 | −1.4% | $70,557 | $76,670 – $123,870 | 1,500 |
| Nebraska | $93,740 | +7.7% | $71,390 | $70,370 – $107,780 | 1,500 |
| Vermont | $93,340 | +8.0% | $70,794 | $69,120 – $118,110 | 320 |
| Minnesota | $93,050 | +9.4% | $69,487 | $71,770 – $108,790 | 3,670 |
| North Carolina | $92,940 | −1.7% | $71,014 | $62,230 – $118,300 | 4,490 |
| Wisconsin | $92,390 | +6.6% | $70,310 | $73,610 – $110,950 | 3,710 |
| Iowa | $89,910 | +1.3% | $69,317 | $64,610 – $109,200 | 1,290 |
| Michigan | $89,910 | +6.4% | $68,511 | $66,580 – $105,720 | 5,120 |
| Montana | $88,990 | +5.4% | $67,767 | $76,110 – $110,910 | 420 |
| Wyoming | $86,170 | −3.6% | $69,451 | $57,740 – $127,790 | 350 |
| South Dakota | $85,050 | +4.4% | $68,663 | $65,820 – $106,520 | 490 |
| Maine | $84,310 | +2.6% | $63,610 | $63,750 – $114,100 | 1,120 |
| New Hampshire | $83,900 | −1.3% | $67,854 | $64,150 – $115,050 | 1,240 |
| North Dakota | $83,200 | +4.1% | $66,998 | $66,890 – $106,300 | 570 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | Doctoral or professional degree | +11.9% |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,870 | Master's degree | +16.6% |
| Radiation Therapist | $105,310 | Associate's degree | +2.8% |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | Associate's degree | +8.5% |
| Therapists, All Other | $77,930 | Bachelor's degree | +12.6% |
| Recreational Therapist | $61,960 | Bachelor's degree | +4.8% |
| Exercise Physiologist | $59,460 | Bachelor's degree | +12.8% |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | Associate's degree | +8.0% |
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | Bachelor's degree | +5.6% |
| Audiologist | $95,780 | Doctoral or professional degree | +11.0% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a occupational therapist make?
The national median salary for occupational therapists is $100,330 a year ($48.24 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $71,690 and the top 10% earn over $131,950. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays occupational therapists the most?
California has the highest median pay at $124,510. After taxes and local prices, Houston, TX offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many occupational therapists are there in the U.S.?
About 162,450 people work as occupational therapists nationwide.