SOC 291122

Occupational Therapists

Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual's environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual. Excludes "Rehabilitation Counselors" (21-1015).

National Median

$98,340

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$98,340

Entry Level (10th pct)

$67,090

Experienced (90th pct)

$129,830

Total Employed

152,280

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience LevelEstimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience$67,090 - $80,490
Mid Career2-8 years experience$80,490 - $110,460
Senior / Expert8+ years experience$110,460 - $129,830

Highest Paying Locations for Occupational Therapists

Occupational Therapists Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan AreaMedian SalaryEmployed
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$134,720700
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$133,85080
Vallejo, CA$129,83090
Chico, CA$128,98080
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$128,9601,510
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$126,22090
Napa, CA$124,68040
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area$124,27040
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$123,900650
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area$123,69070
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$119,920140
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$119,550160
California$119,47012,020
Modesto, CA$118,790160
Stockton-Lodi, CA$118,500140
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area$116,20030
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$115,3804,500
Salinas, CA$112,380110
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$112,0501,260
Naples-Marco Island, FL$109,820140
Merced, CA$109,04030
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$109,010980
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA$108,81040
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area$108,720100
Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area$108,69040
Medford, OR$108,58090
Boulder, CO$108,410230
Greeley, CO$108,370130
Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area$108,27090
Bend, OR$108,110120
Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area$107,95050
Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area$107,85040
Spartanburg, SC$107,730230
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$107,650230
Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area$107,580140
Yakima, WA$107,50050
Fresno, CA$107,370260
Oregon$106,8401,420
East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area$106,35060
Reno, NV$106,150150
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX$105,8401,370
Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area$105,430110
Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ$105,10060
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO$105,090270
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$105,050830
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$105,0102,250
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$104,9302,080
Nevada$104,7701,090
Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ$104,72040
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV$104,670890

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Occupational Therapists?
The national median annual salary for Occupational Therapists is $98,340, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.
Where do Occupational Therapistss earn the most?
The highest-paying metro area for Occupational Therapistss is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median salary of $134,720.
How much can an experienced Occupational Therapists make?
Top-earning Occupational Therapistss (90th percentile) make $129,830 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.