Occupational Therapist Salary in Buffalo, NY
Occupational Therapists in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $81,560 a year — 19% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,400 take-home, or $5,200 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median occupational therapist salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,113
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,057
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,183
- New York income tax$3,807
- Take-home pay$62,400
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Occupational Therapist pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,560 | $29.12 | $48,167 | $4,014 |
| 25th percentile | $65,890 | $31.68 | $52,162 | $4,347 |
| Median (50th) | $81,560 | $39.21 | $62,400 | $5,200 |
| 75th percentile | $101,050 | $48.58 | $74,997 | $6,250 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,620 | $51.26 | $78,587 | $6,549 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,560 buys in Buffalo, NY
Prices in Buffalo, NY are 4.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median occupational therapist's $62,400 take-home pay has the buying power of $65,106 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Buffalo, NY has 1.7× 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
Buffalo, NY ranks #63 of 65 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $122,050 | $94,687 | $96,555 |
| 2 | San Antonio, TX | $107,650 | $84,562 | $89,279 |
| 3 | Fayetteville, AR | $107,830 | $80,696 | $88,334 |
| 4 | Little Rock, AR | $104,680 | $78,603 | $87,958 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $110,520 | $86,581 | $86,395 |
| 6 | Dayton, OH | $103,840 | $79,808 | $86,099 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $136,870 | $94,538 | $85,614 |
| 8 | Oklahoma City, OK | $103,080 | $77,254 | $85,450 |
| 63 | Buffalo, NY | $81,560 | $62,400 | $65,106 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 65 metros →
Occupational Therapist salaries elsewhere in New York
- Syracuse, NY — $86,110
- New York, NY — $101,460
- Albany, NY — $85,990
- Rochester, NY — $81,750
Frequently asked questions
How much does a occupational therapist make in Buffalo, NY?
The median occupational therapist salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $81,560 a year, or about $39.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,890 and $101,050.
What is a occupational therapist’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $81,560 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $62,400 a year ($5,200 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,807 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a occupational therapist?
Pay here is 19% below the national median of $100,330. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $65,106 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #63 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a occupational therapist afford rent in Buffalo, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Buffalo, NY is $1,139 a month ($1,343 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median occupational therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- Pharmacist — $137,900
- Nurse Practitioner — $132,220
- Physician Assistant — $126,360
- Physicians, All Other — $108,510
- Registered Nurse — $99,060
- Physical Therapist — $95,800
- Respiratory Therapist — $86,720
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $83,090
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $82,890
- Dental Hygienist — $82,470
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $78,050
- Surgical Technologist — $77,440