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
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 #39 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 |
| 39 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,040 | $85,974 | $75,704 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $136,870
- San Francisco, CA — $136,770
- Sacramento, CA — $122,780
- Riverside, CA — $119,530
- San Diego, CA — $121,680
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 #39 of 65 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%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $196,760
- Pediatricians, General — $176,900
- Radiation Therapist — $169,150
- Physician Assistant — $161,890
- Nurse Practitioner — $161,470
- Veterinarian — $160,080
- Pharmacist — $157,440
- Nuclear Medicine Technologist — $156,410
- Dentists, General — $139,990
- Optometrist — $138,940
- Registered Nurse — $135,560