Occupational Therapist Salary in Riverside, CA
Occupational Therapists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $119,530 a year — 19% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $84,479 take-home, or $7,040 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median occupational therapist salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,467
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,411
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,733
- California income tax$6,887
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,554
- Take-home pay$84,479
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 9.30% state
Occupational Therapist pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $86,490 | $41.58 | $64,737 | $5,395 |
| 25th percentile | $101,920 | $49.00 | $73,957 | $6,163 |
| Median (50th) | $119,530 | $57.47 | $84,479 | $7,040 |
| 75th percentile | $134,000 | $64.42 | $92,881 | $7,740 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,490 | $72.35 | $102,404 | $8,534 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $119,530 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median occupational therapist's $84,479 take-home pay has the buying power of $79,366 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 Riverside, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.62), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for occupational therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #23 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 |
| 23 | Riverside, CA | $119,530 | $84,479 | $79,366 |
*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
- San Diego, CA — $121,680
- Los Angeles, CA — $122,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a occupational therapist make in Riverside, CA?
The median occupational therapist salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $119,530 a year, or about $57.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $101,920 and $134,000.
What is a occupational therapist’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $119,530 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $84,479 a year ($7,040 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,441 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a occupational therapist?
Pay here is 19% above the national median of $100,330. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $79,366 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #23 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a occupational therapist afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median occupational therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $169,920
- Physician Assistant — $165,490
- Pharmacist — $161,870
- Veterinarian — $160,860
- Registered Nurse — $133,940
- Optometrist — $129,990
- Dentists, General — $125,230
- Physical Therapist — $120,110
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $118,560
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $105,860