Occupational Therapist Salary in Denver, CO
Occupational Therapists in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $107,500 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $80,435 take-home, or $6,703 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median occupational therapist salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,820
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,665
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,559
- Colorado income tax$4,022
- Take-home pay$80,435
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.40% state
Occupational Therapist pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,170 | $38.06 | $61,751 | $5,146 |
| 25th percentile | $94,210 | $45.29 | $71,670 | $5,972 |
| Median (50th) | $107,500 | $51.68 | $80,435 | $6,703 |
| 75th percentile | $127,330 | $61.22 | $93,402 | $7,783 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,820 | $75.88 | $112,900 | $9,408 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $107,500 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median occupational therapist's $80,435 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,038 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 about as common in Denver, CO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for occupational therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #38 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 |
| 38 | Denver, CO | $107,500 | $80,435 | $76,038 |
*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 Colorado
- Colorado Springs, CO — $105,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a occupational therapist make in Denver, CO?
The median occupational therapist salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $107,500 a year, or about $51.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $94,210 and $127,330.
What is a occupational therapist’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $107,500 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $80,435 a year ($6,703 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,022 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a occupational therapist?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $100,330. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,038 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #38 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a occupational therapist afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median occupational therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Dentists, General — $168,620
- Optometrist — $158,130
- Pharmacist — $157,890
- Veterinarian — $135,090
- Physician Assistant — $134,540
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,040
- Dental Hygienist — $113,760
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $112,090
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $108,410
- Physical Therapist — $102,340