Occupational Therapist Salary in San Jose, CA
Occupational Therapists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $136,870 a year — 36% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $94,538 take-home, or $7,878 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median occupational therapist salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$21,583
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,486
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,985
- California income tax$8,499
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,779
- Take-home pay$94,538
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Occupational Therapist pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $97,450 | $46.85 | $71,286 | $5,940 |
| 25th percentile | $124,800 | $60.00 | $87,568 | $7,297 |
| Median (50th) | $136,870 | $65.80 | $94,538 | $7,878 |
| 75th percentile | $163,070 | $78.40 | $109,669 | $9,139 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,990 | $81.73 | $113,665 | $9,472 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $136,870 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median occupational therapist's $94,538 take-home pay has the buying power of $85,614 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 San Jose, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for occupational therapists, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #7 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 |
*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 Francisco, CA — $136,770
- Sacramento, CA — $122,780
- Riverside, CA — $119,530
- San Diego, CA — $121,680
- Los Angeles, CA — $122,040
Frequently asked questions
How much does a occupational therapist make in San Jose, CA?
The median occupational therapist salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $136,870 a year, or about $65.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $124,800 and $163,070.
What is a occupational therapist’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $136,870 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $94,538 a year ($7,878 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $10,279 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a occupational therapist?
Pay here is 36% above the national median of $100,330. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $85,614 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #7 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a occupational therapist afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 38% of a median occupational therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $231,560
- Physician Assistant — $223,640
- Registered Nurse — $216,740
- Dentists, General — $207,910
- Pharmacist — $199,040
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $173,150
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $154,850
- Respiratory Therapist — $149,680
- Dental Hygienist — $139,990
- Physical Therapist — $139,000
- Optometrist — $135,330