Occupational Therapist Salary in Washington, DC
Occupational Therapists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $102,960 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,479 take-home, or $6,290 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median occupational therapist salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,821
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,384
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,493
- District of Columbia income tax$5,783
- Take-home pay$75,479
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Occupational Therapist pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,650 | $38.29 | $61,062 | $5,089 |
| 25th percentile | $93,140 | $44.78 | $69,406 | $5,784 |
| Median (50th) | $102,960 | $49.50 | $75,479 | $6,290 |
| 75th percentile | $128,850 | $61.95 | $91,351 | $7,613 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $138,150 | $66.42 | $96,917 | $8,076 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $102,960 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median occupational therapist's $75,479 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,321 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 Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for occupational therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #56 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 |
| 56 | 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 65 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a occupational therapist make in Washington, DC?
The median occupational therapist salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $102,960 a year, or about $49.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $93,140 and $128,850.
What is a occupational therapist’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $102,960 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $75,479 a year ($6,290 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,783 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a occupational therapist?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $100,330. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,321 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #56 of 65 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a occupational therapist afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median occupational therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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