Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$71,690
- 25th Percentile — Junior$82,510
- 50th Percentile — Median$100,330
- 75th Percentile — Senior$116,670
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$131,950
The top 10% of Occupational Therapists earn $131,950 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $71,690, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $121,920 | +20.4% |
| Nevada | $112,290 | +10.9% |
| Oregon | $112,000 | +10.6% |
| Colorado | $111,620 | +10.2% |
| District of Columbia | $110,850 | +9.4% |
| New Jersey | $110,150 | +8.8% |
| Washington | $110,100 | +8.7% |
| Alaska | $108,000 | +6.6% |
| Texas | $107,630 | +6.3% |
| Maryland | $106,300 | +5.0% |
| Delaware | $105,190 | +3.9% |
| Arizona | $104,960 | +3.6% |
| Arkansas | $104,940 | +3.6% |
| Oklahoma | $104,370 | +3.1% |
| Connecticut | $102,140 | +0.8% |
| Virginia | $102,130 | +0.8% |
| New Mexico | $101,800 | +0.5% |
| Georgia | $101,460 | +0.2% |
| Hawaii | $100,280 | -1.0% |
| Idaho | $100,000 | -1.3% |
| Massachusetts | $99,730 | -1.5% |
| Illinois | $99,570 | -1.7% |
| Rhode Island | $99,380 | -1.9% |
| Pennsylvania | $98,460 | -2.8% |
| New York | $97,650 | -3.6% |
| Ohio | $97,390 | -3.8% |
| Utah | $97,210 | -4.0% |
| South Carolina | $97,180 | -4.0% |
| Kansas | $96,150 | -5.1% |
| Indiana | $96,090 | -5.1% |
| West Virginia | $95,810 | -5.4% |
| Alabama | $95,760 | -5.5% |
| Florida | $95,620 | -5.6% |
| Kentucky | $95,450 | -5.8% |
| Missouri | $95,200 | -6.0% |
| Tennessee | $95,080 | -6.1% |
| Mississippi | $93,430 | -7.8% |
| Vermont | $92,960 | -8.2% |
| Louisiana | $92,940 | -8.2% |
| Montana | $92,310 | -8.9% |
| Nebraska | $91,620 | -9.5% |
| Minnesota | $91,450 | -9.7% |
| North Carolina | $91,360 | -9.8% |
| Wisconsin | $91,150 | -10.0% |
| Wyoming | $90,790 | -10.4% |
| Iowa | $89,720 | -11.4% |
| Michigan | $89,150 | -12.0% |
| New Hampshire | $89,080 | -12.0% |
| South Dakota | $88,150 | -13.0% |
| Maine | $87,900 | -13.2% |
| North Dakota | $87,670 | -13.4% |
What Factors Affect Occupational Therapists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Occupational Therapists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: California pays an average of $121,920, while North Dakota pays $87,670 — a gap of $34,250 per year.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Occupational Therapists typically earn $71,690–$82,510 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $116,670–$131,950 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Occupational Therapists role currently has medium demand in the job market with a 4.2% growth rate, making it one of the most growing careers in the Healthcare sector.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States +0.1% vs this role
- Nurse Practitioners $137,300/yr United States +35.6% vs this role
- Pharmacists $140,920/yr United States +39.1% vs this role
- Physical Therapists $105,280/yr United States +3.9% vs this role
- Speech-Language Pathologists $98,170/yr United States 3.1% vs this role
- Licensed Practical Nurses $67,050/yr United States 33.8% vs this role
- Software Developers $148,100/yr United States +46.2% vs this role
- Information Security Analysts $132,510/yr United States +30.8% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Occupational Therapists?
The average salary for Occupational Therapists in the United States is $101,280 per year, with a median of $100,330.
What is the starting salary for Occupational Therapists?
Entry-level Occupational Therapists typically earn between $71,690 and $82,510 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Occupational Therapists the most?
California pays Occupational Therapists the most at $121,920 per year on average, followed by Nevada ($112,290) and Oregon ($112,000).
How much do Occupational Therapists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $101,280, Occupational Therapists earn approximately $48.69 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Occupational Therapists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 162,450 Occupational Therapists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $101,280 and a median of $100,330 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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