Occupational Therapist Salary in Houston, TX
Occupational Therapists in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $103,580 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $81,699 take-home, or $6,808 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median occupational therapist salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,958
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,422
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,502
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$81,699
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Occupational Therapist pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,790 | $37.88 | $64,259 | $5,355 |
| 25th percentile | $85,260 | $40.99 | $68,810 | $5,734 |
| Median (50th) | $103,580 | $49.80 | $81,699 | $6,808 |
| 75th percentile | $125,100 | $60.14 | $96,772 | $8,064 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $140,720 | $67.65 | $107,448 | $8,954 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $103,580 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median occupational therapist's $81,699 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,834 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 Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for occupational therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #1 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.
Occupational Therapist salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $106,110
Frequently asked questions
How much does a occupational therapist make in Houston, TX?
The median occupational therapist salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $103,580 a year, or about $49.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $85,260 and $125,100.
What is a occupational therapist’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $103,580 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $81,699 a year ($6,808 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a occupational therapist?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $100,330. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,834 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #1 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a occupational therapist afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median occupational therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $140,470
- Physician Assistant — $137,240
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,560
- Physical Therapist — $107,700
- Dental Hygienist — $104,930
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $100,400
- Registered Nurse — $99,830
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $80,780
- Respiratory Therapist — $80,450
- Surgical Technologist — $71,050
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $63,670