Occupational Therapist salary in the U.S.
Occupational Therapists in the U.S. earn a median of $100,330 a year ($48.24 an hour), based on BLS data for 162,450 workers.
Pay ranges from $71,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,950 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $101,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for occupational therapists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,690 | $34.47 |
| 25th percentile | $82,510 | $39.67 |
| Median | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| 75th percentile | $116,670 | $56.09 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,950 | $63.44 |
| Average (mean) | $101,280 | $48.69 |
Half of occupational therapists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,360.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,180.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,858.85 |
| Weekly | $1,929.42 |
| Hourly | $48.24 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Occupational Therapist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| California | $124,510 | 13,810 |
| Oregon | $112,310 | 1,170 |
| Nevada | $110,520 | 1,080 |
| District of Columbia | $109,170 | 540 |
| Washington | $107,670 | 3,340 |
| Maryland | $106,980 | 2,390 |
| Colorado | $106,720 | 3,390 |
| Arkansas | $106,360 | 2,160 |
| Texas | $106,140 | 13,400 |
| Oklahoma | $104,300 | 1,180 |
| Georgia | $104,010 | 3,650 |
| Alaska | $103,680 | 410 |
| Arizona | $103,660 | 2,680 |
| New Jersey | $103,410 | 6,290 |
| Hawaii | $102,870 | 390 |
| Connecticut | $102,440 | 3,150 |
| Delaware | $102,130 | 490 |
| South Carolina | $101,130 | 1,840 |
| Massachusetts | $100,930 | 6,510 |
| Virginia | $100,710 | 4,150 |
| Rhode Island | $100,040 | 770 |
| Illinois | $99,700 | 7,710 |
| Ohio | $99,390 | 6,760 |
| Florida | $99,360 | 10,650 |
| Kansas | $99,170 | 1,560 |
| New Mexico | $99,170 | 1,030 |
| Louisiana | $98,490 | 2,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,440 | 6,560 |
| Idaho | $97,760 | 840 |
| Tennessee | $97,700 | 2,490 |
| Kentucky | $97,650 | 2,190 |
| Missouri | $97,290 | 3,400 |
| Utah | $97,150 | 1,030 |
| Indiana | $97,020 | 3,830 |
| New York | $96,390 | 11,690 |
| West Virginia | $96,190 | 700 |
| Mississippi | $94,930 | 1,340 |
| Alabama | $94,050 | 1,500 |
| Nebraska | $93,740 | 1,500 |
| Vermont | $93,340 | 320 |
| Minnesota | $93,050 | 3,670 |
| North Carolina | $92,940 | 4,490 |
| Wisconsin | $92,390 | 3,710 |
| Iowa | $89,910 | 1,290 |
| Michigan | $89,910 | 5,120 |
| Montana | $88,990 | 420 |
| Wyoming | $86,170 | 350 |
| South Dakota | $85,050 | 490 |
| Maine | $84,310 | 1,120 |
| New Hampshire | $83,900 | 1,240 |
| North Dakota | $83,200 | 570 |
| Puerto Rico | $51,850 | 170 |
Best-paying metro areas for occupational therapists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $136,870 | 840 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $136,770 | 1,560 |
| Vallejo, CA | $135,000 | 100 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $130,420 | 100 |
| Chico, CA | $129,260 | 70 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $128,010 | 130 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $125,890 | 170 |
| Napa, CA | $124,490 | 40 |
| Boulder, CO | $123,490 | 260 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $123,200 | 170 |
| Salinas, CA | $123,180 | 110 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $122,990 | 230 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $122,780 | 810 |
| Visalia, CA | $122,690 | 140 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $122,050 | 1,600 |
Metro areas with the most occupational therapists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 11,640 | $101,460 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 5,960 | $99,860 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,950 | $122,040 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 4,790 | $101,940 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,450 | $106,110 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,410 | $103,140 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,700 | $103,580 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,640 | $102,960 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,590 | $93,600 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 2,550 | $101,480 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,120 | $106,160 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,070 | $105,060 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 2,030 | $89,600 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,020 | $109,860 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,870 | $107,500 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Physicians, All Other | $265,930 | $127.85 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 | $67.75 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,870 | $47.05 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 | $65.33 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | $39.56 |
| Dentists, General | $170,950 | $82.19 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $244,180 | $117.39 |
| Veterinarian | $130,100 | $62.55 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $256,560 | $123.35 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1122. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a occupational therapist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for occupational therapists in the U.S. is $100,330 a year, or $48.24 an hour. Pay ranges from $71,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $131,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid occupational therapists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of occupational therapists in the U.S. earn at least $131,950 a year. The top 25% earn $116,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for occupational therapists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $71,690 a year, and a quarter of occupational therapists earn $82,510 or less.
How many occupational therapists work in the U.S.?
About 162,450 occupational therapists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.