Occupational therapist earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level occupational therapist earnings begin at:

$63.15 per hour

$131,340 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level occupational therapist earnings begin at:

$61.32 per hour

$127,540 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level occupational therapist earnings begin at:

$54.00 per hour

$112,310 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level occupational therapist earnings begin at:

$47.98 per hour

$99,800 per year

10th percentile

Starting level occupational therapist earnings begin at:

$37.74 per hour

$78,500 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Occupational therapist salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Illinois $99,700
Ohio $99,390
Florida $99,360
Kansas $99,170
New Mexico $99,170
Louisiana $98,490
Pennsylvania $98,440
Idaho $97,760
Tennessee $97,700
Kentucky $97,650
Missouri $97,290
Utah $97,150
Indiana $97,020
New York $96,390
West Virginia $96,190
Mississippi $94,930
Alabama $94,050
Nebraska $93,740
Vermont $93,340
Minnesota $93,050
North Carolina $92,940
Wisconsin $92,390
Iowa $89,910
Michigan $89,910
Montana $88,990
Wyoming $86,170
South Dakota $85,050
Maine $84,310
New Hampshire $83,900
North Dakota $83,200
Puerto Rico $35,170
California $124,510
Oregon $112,310
Nevada $110,520
District of Columbia $109,170
Washington $107,670
Maryland $106,980
Colorado $106,720
Arkansas $106,360
Texas $106,140
Oklahoma $104,300
Georgia $104,010
Alaska $103,680
Arizona $103,660
New Jersey $103,410
Hawaii $102,870
Connecticut $102,440
Delaware $102,130
South Carolina $101,130
Massachusetts $100,930
Virginia $100,710
Rhode Island $100,040

How much does an Occupational Therapist earn?

Demand for occupational therapy services is related to the ability of patients to pay, either directly or through health insurance. The number of individuals who have access to occupational therapy services may increase because of federal health insurance reform. Both rehabilitation and habilitation services are listed among the essential health benefits that insurers will need to cover once reforms are implemented.

In May 2012, the median annual wages for occupational therapists in the top five industries in which these therapists worked were as follows:

Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) - $83,430
Home health care services - $82,310
Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists - $77,430
Hospitals; state, local, and private - $75,140
Elementary and secondary schools; state, local, and private - $66,610

The median annual salary for occupational therapists was $78,810 in 2014, according to the BLS. The best-paid 10 percent in the profession made $112,950, while the bottom 10 percent made $65,020. Occupational therapists that work for scientific research and development services are generally compensated very well, as are the therapists that work in the metropolitan areas of Las Vegas; Beaumont, Texas; and Daytona Beach, Florida.

How do occupational therapist salaries compare to similar careers?

Occupational therapists earn about the same as related careers in Oregon. On average, they make less than clinical nurse specialists but more than radiologic technologists.

Career Median Salary
Clinical nurse specialist salary $129K
Dental hygienist salary $122K
Nuclear medicine technologist salary $122K
Magnetic resonance imaging technologist salary $122K
Diagnostic medical sonographer salary $120K
Occupational therapist salary $112K
Physical therapist salary $104K
Speech language pathologist salary $103K
Neuropsychologist salary $87K
Radiologic technologist salary $102K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)