Occupational Therapists Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$85,550
- 25th Percentile — Junior$103,950
- 50th Percentile — Median$124,510
- 75th Percentile — Senior$136,380
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$158,560
Half of Occupational Therapists in California earn more than $124,510. The top 10% make $158,560 or more, while entry-level workers start around $85,550.
Occupational Therapists in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 1st of 51 states for Occupational Therapists pay, at $121,920 per year (20.4% above the U.S. average of $101,280).
- 13,810 people work as Occupational Therapists in California — 8.5% of all U.S. Occupational Therapists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.73: Occupational Therapists jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $85,550; the top 10% earn over $158,560.
- Hourly equivalent: $58.62 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- Among healthcare jobs in California, Psychiatrists pays the most ($315,380).
Occupational Therapists Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Occupational Therapists here earn $121,920 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $121,920 is roughly equivalent to $85,859 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Nevada ($112,290), Oregon ($112,000), Colorado ($111,620) are the closest alternatives for Occupational Therapists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Healthcare Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Psychiatrists $315,380/yr California +158.7% vs this role
- Radiologists $309,990/yr California +154.3% vs this role
- Nurse Anesthetists $283,780/yr California +132.8% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $273,270/yr California +124.1% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $272,520/yr California +123.5% vs this role
- Surgeons All Other $255,620/yr California +109.7% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $252,930/yr California +107.5% vs this role
- Physicians All Other $249,620/yr California +104.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Occupational Therapists salary in California?
The average Occupational Therapists salary in California is $121,920 per year (median $124,510), which is 20.4% above the national average of $101,280.
How does California rank for Occupational Therapists pay?
California ranks 1st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($121,920/yr).
How much do entry-level Occupational Therapists make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Occupational Therapists in California earn about $85,550 per year and the 25th percentile is $103,950.
How much do Occupational Therapists make per hour in California?
About $58.62 per hour, based on the $121,920 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Occupational Therapists work in California?
BLS counts 13,810 Occupational Therapists jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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