How much does an occupational therapist make?

The average occupational therapist salary in the United States is $75,707. Occupational therapist salaries typically range between $58,000 and $97,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for occupational therapists is $36.4 per hour. Occupational therapist salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Occupational therapists earn the highest average salary in California.

Occupational therapist salary

Q: What state pays Occupational Therapists the most?

California pays Occupational Therapists the most in the United States, with an average salary of $105,738 per year, or $50.84 per hour.

Q: How do I know if I'm being paid fairly as an occupational therapist?

You know if you are being paid fairly as an occupational therapist if your pay is close to the average pay for the state you live in. For example, if you live in Alaska you should be paid close to $98,525 per year.

Q: Can occupational therapists make six figures?

Yes, occupational therapists can make six figures. However, it depends strongly on industry, location, and experience. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest-paid industry in 2020 is Child Day Care Services, with the annual mean wage at $106,070. The second and third highest-paid industries are Management of Companies and Enterprises ($99,850) and Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly ($94,360).

Q: Do occupational therapists make good money?

Yes, occupational therapists generally make good money. Most occupational therapists make above the typical national wages of $56,000. An entry-level position roughly makes 58,000 in yearly salary and continues to make more depending on industry, location, and experience. For example, California and Nevada are among the top-paying states.

Q: What is the highest-paying occupational therapy job?

The highest paying occupational therapy job varies depending on industry, location, and experience. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational therapists working in nursing care facilities (or skilled nursing facilities) make about $92,260 in median annual wages in 2020. Home healthcare services are a close second at about $91,830.

Average occupational therapist salary

$75,707

$36.4 hourly rate

Entry-level occupational therapist salary

$58,000 yearly salary

Updated December 15, 2025

Understanding Occupational Therapist Salaries

Occupational therapists (OTs) are essential healthcare providers who assist patients in overcoming challenges that hinder their daily activities. The average salary of $75,707 reflects the demand for skilled professionals in this field. Factors influencing salary include experience level, geographic location, and the specific healthcare setting in which the therapist works.

For instance, OTs with advanced certifications or those working in specialized areas may command higher salaries. Additionally, states like California and New York often offer more competitive pay due to higher living costs and demand for occupational therapy services. As OTs gain experience, their earning potential typically increases, with entry-level positions starting around $50,000 and seasoned professionals earning upwards of $90,000.

By evaluating the average salaries by state and experience level, aspiring OTs can make informed career decisions. Resources like Zippia provide valuable insights into occupational therapy salaries, helping job seekers navigate their career paths effectively.

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Occupational therapist salary by:

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Where can an Occupational Therapist earn more?

Compare salary by location

120k

100k

80k

60k

40k

Columbus, OH$108,453

Philadelphia, PA$70,032

Compare salary by company

118k

98k

78k

58k

Waters$95,375

EnduraCare Therapy Management, Inc.$87,887

Occupational therapist salaries by experience level

Occupational therapist salary estimates from across the web

Based on the latest salary information compiled by Zippia, Salary.com, Indeed, Glassdoor, Ziprecruiter, SalaryExpert, Comparably and CareerExplorer, the average salary for an occupational therapist typically falls between $75,707 and $102,617.

zippia

$75,707yearly

glassdoor[1]

$96,951yearly

indeed[2]

$102,617yearly

comparably[3]

$101,346yearly

Salary.com[4]

$98,326yearly

ZipRecruiter[5]

$94,687yearly

SalaryExpert[6]

$93,683yearly

CareerExplorer[7]

$85,570yearly

Average occupational therapist salary by state

The highest-paying states for occupational therapists are California, Alaska, and Nevada. The lowest average occupational therapist salary states are South Dakota, North Dakota, and Michigan.

State view
County view

Average salary:

Highest paying states for occupational therapists

Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	California	$105,738	$50.84
2	Washington	$89,446	$43.00
3	Hawaii	$94,336	$45.35
4	Alaska	$98,525	$47.37
5	Nevada	$95,125	$45.73
6	Oregon	$92,211	$44.33
7	Louisiana	$82,500	$39.66
8	Idaho	$78,066	$37.53
9	Oklahoma	$75,222	$36.16
10	Arizona	$82,202	$39.52
11	Rhode Island	$77,832	$37.42
12	Wisconsin	$74,823	$35.97
13	Indiana	$70,802	$34.04
14	Montana	$73,788	$35.48
15	New Hampshire	$73,089	$35.14
16	Iowa	$71,008	$34.14
17	Colorado	$76,096	$36.58
18	Tennessee	$73,937	$35.55
19	Texas	$72,237	$34.73
20	Wyoming	$71,018	$34.14
21	New Jersey	$77,339	$37.18
22	Virginia	$77,073	$37.05
23	Arkansas	$70,601	$33.94
24	Ohio	$71,976	$34.60
25	South Carolina	$70,116	$33.71
26	Nebraska	$69,538	$33.43
27	Massachusetts	$77,732	$37.37
28	Kansas	$68,542	$32.95
29	Maryland	$75,468	$36.28
30	District of Columbia	$85,854	$41.28
31	Utah	$73,396	$35.29
32	New Mexico	$71,432	$34.34
33	Maine	$68,992	$33.17
34	West Virginia	$66,843	$32.14
35	Pennsylvania	$69,889	$33.60
36	Georgia	$68,111	$32.75
37	Illinois	$69,303	$33.32
38	North Dakota	$64,816	$31.16
39	New York	$72,340	$34.78
40	Connecticut	$72,671	$34.94
41	North Carolina	$69,228	$33.28
42	Missouri	$67,618	$32.51
43	Minnesota	$70,407	$33.85
44	South Dakota	$65,421	$31.45
45	Vermont	$61,429	$29.53
46	Mississippi	$67,542	$32.47
47	Delaware	$67,769	$32.58
48	Kentucky	$64,160	$30.85
49	Florida	$68,039	$32.71
50	Alabama	$61,658	$29.64
51	Michigan	$64,386	$30.95

Top occupational therapist jobs near you

Highest paying cities for occupational therapists

The highest-paying cities for occupational therapists are Salinas, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Portland, OR.

Rank	City	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
1	Salinas, CA	$108,453	$52.14
2	Las Vegas, NV	$95,402	$45.87
3	Portland, OR	$92,075	$44.27
4	Vancouver, WA	$90,031	$43.28
5	Washington, DC	$85,893	$41.29
6	Phoenix, AZ	$82,646	$39.73
7	Boston, MA	$77,848	$37.43
8	Jersey City, NJ	$77,309	$37.17
9	Arlington, VA	$77,114	$37.07
10	Colorado Springs, CO	$76,138	$36.60
11	Baltimore, MD	$75,539	$36.32
12	Oklahoma City, OK	$75,307	$36.21
13	Concord, NH	$72,971	$35.08
14	San Antonio, TX	$72,954	$35.07
15	New York, NY	$72,296	$34.76
16	Columbus, OH	$71,983	$34.61
17	Albuquerque, NM	$71,753	$34.50
18	Indianapolis, IN	$70,820	$34.05
19	Austin, MN	$70,382	$33.84
20	Philadelphia, PA	$70,032	$33.67

Occupational Therapists are the most in-demand in these five cities:

Occupational therapist salary details

An occupational therapist's salary ranges from $58,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $97,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average occupational therapist salary graph, trends, and summary

What is an occupational therapist's salary?

Percentile	Annual salary	Monthly salary	Hourly rate
90th Percentile	$97,000	$8,083	$47
75th Percentile	$86,000	$7,167	$41
Average	$75,707	$6,309	$36
25th Percentile	$66,000	$5,500	$32
10th Percentile	$58,000	$4,833	$28

Highest paying occupational therapist jobs

The highest paying types of occupational therapists are pediatric occupational therapist, registered occupational therapist, and early intervention occupational therapist.

Job title	Annual salary	Monthly salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
Rehabilitation Technician	$29,533	$2,461	$14.20	31,196
Music Therapy Internship	$36,844	$3,070	$17.71	111,846
Student Physical Therapist	$73,003	$6,084	$35.10	92,101
Therapist	$55,943	$4,662	$26.90	159,770
Physical Therapist	$73,070	$6,089	$35.13	86,697
Pediatric Occupational Therapist	$82,293	$6,858	$39.56	90,520

Top companies hiring occupational therapists now:

Which companies pay occupational therapists the most?

Occupational therapist salaries at Waters and Mayo Clinic are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average occupational therapist salary at companies like Parkway and Visting Nurse Service & Affiliates are highly competitive.

Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate
1	Waters	$95,375	$45.85
2	Mayo Clinic	$92,293	$44.37
3	Parkway	$91,707	$44.09
4	Visting Nurse Service & Affiliates	$90,996	$43.75
5	Consonus Healthcare	$90,879	$43.69
6	SYNERTX Rehabilitation	$90,625	$43.57
7	Therapy Resources Management	$89,700	$43.13
8	Renewal Rehab	$89,311	$42.94
9	CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield	$89,036	$42.81
10	Reliant Rehabilitation	$88,989	$42.78
11	Concept Rehab	$88,789	$42.69
12	Rehab Pro	$88,609	$42.60
13	Care Ventures Inc	$88,561	$42.58
14	Infinity Rehab	$88,514	$42.55
15	Weinberg Campus	$88,499	$42.55
16	The Osborn	$88,441	$42.52
17	Functional Pathways	$88,415	$42.51
18	Aegis Therapies	$88,395	$42.50
19	The Weston Group	$88,197	$42.40
20	EnduraCare Therapy Management, Inc.	$87,887	$42.25

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$73,000$72,200$71,400$70,600$69,800$69,000

MaleFemale

Occupational therapist salary trends

The average occupational therapist salary has risen by $10,933 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average occupational therapist earned $64,774 annually, but today, they earn $75,707 a year. That works out to a 5% change in pay for occupational therapists over the last decade.

Compare occupational therapist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average occupational therapist salary over time

Compare occupational therapist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Occupational therapist salary by year

Year	Avg. salary	Hourly rate	% Change
2025	$75,700	$36.40	+1.5%
2024	$74,500	$35.84	+0.8%
2023	$73,900	$35.55	+1.3%
2022	$73,000	$35.10	+1.6%
2021	$71,900	$34.55	+2.1%

Recently added occupational therapist salaries

Company	Job	Location	Date added	Salary
Community Health Systems	Occupational Therapist	Huntsville, AL	06/30/2025	$120,000
Sutterhealth	Occupational Therapist II-Outpatient Lymphedema/Orthopedics	San Francisco, CA	06/30/2025	$125,450
Tender Touch Rehab	Occupational Therapist	Kenosha, WI	06/30/2025	$60,000
Aegis Therapies	Occupational Therapist/OTR	Westminster, MD	06/30/2025	$100,176
Fox Rehabilitation	Occupational Therapist	Rhode Island	06/30/2025	$70,000
Compassus	Occupational Therapist	Seattle, WA	06/30/2025	$97,192
ABA Pathways Inc.	Occupational Therapist	Ann Arbor, MI	06/30/2025	$52,000
Enhabit Home Health & Hospice	Occupational Therapist (OT)-Home Health	Springfield, IL	06/30/2025	$90,000
Innovative Integrated Health, Inc.	Occupational Therapist Per-Diem	Fresno, CA	06/30/2025	$146,090
Montana Office of Public Instruction	Occupational Therapist	Helena, MT	06/30/2025	$58,079

Occupational therapist salary FAQs

What state pays Occupational Therapists the most?

How do I know if I'm being paid fairly as an occupational therapist?

Can occupational therapists make six figures?

Do occupational therapists make good money?

What is the highest-paying occupational therapy job?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.

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Updated December 15, 2025

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