Occupational therapists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $71,690 | $34.47 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| Mean (average) | $101,280 | $48.69 |
| 90th percentile | $131,950 | $63.44 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Occupational therapists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $94,050 | $76,670 | $123,870 | 1,500 | 0.68 |
| Alaska | $103,680 | $82,320 | $133,860 | 410 | 1.2 |
| Arizona | $103,660 | $78,160 | $131,950 | 2,680 | 0.79 |
| Arkansas | $106,360 | $65,160 | $144,250 | 2,160 | 1.59 |
| California | $124,510 | $85,550 | $158,560 | 13,810 | 0.73 |
| Colorado | $106,720 | $81,390 | $157,820 | 3,390 | 1.13 |
| Connecticut | $102,440 | $76,360 | $127,630 | 3,150 | 1.77 |
| Delaware | $102,130 | $71,280 | $138,640 | 490 | 0.96 |
| District of Columbia | $109,170 | $81,760 | $129,810 | 540 | 0.74 |
| Florida | $99,360 | $66,230 | $117,950 | 10,650 | 1.03 |
| Georgia | $104,010 | $75,290 | $128,610 | 3,650 | 0.72 |
| Hawaii | $102,870 | $78,670 | $118,240 | 390 | 0.6 |
| Idaho | $97,760 | $69,440 | $152,880 | 840 | 0.93 |
| Illinois | $99,700 | $73,360 | $132,180 | 7,710 | 1.21 |
| Indiana | $97,020 | $69,550 | $119,950 | 3,830 | 1.14 |
| Iowa | $89,910 | $64,610 | $109,200 | 1,290 | 0.79 |
| Kansas | $99,170 | $66,720 | $120,950 | 1,560 | 1.04 |
| Kentucky | $97,650 | $71,030 | $119,250 | 2,190 | 1.05 |
| Louisiana | $98,490 | $61,070 | $126,630 | 2,060 | 1.02 |
| Maine | $84,310 | $63,750 | $114,100 | 1,120 | 1.68 |
| Maryland | $106,980 | $76,650 | $132,300 | 2,390 | 0.83 |
| Massachusetts | $100,930 | $73,140 | $127,380 | 6,510 | 1.71 |
| Michigan | $89,910 | $66,580 | $105,720 | 5,120 | 1.11 |
| Minnesota | $93,050 | $71,770 | $108,790 | 3,670 | 1.19 |
| Mississippi | $94,930 | $73,200 | $113,950 | 1,340 | 1.1 |
| Missouri | $97,290 | $71,880 | $120,130 | 3,400 | 1.11 |
| Montana | $88,990 | $76,110 | $110,910 | 420 | 0.79 |
| Nebraska | $93,740 | $70,370 | $107,780 | 1,500 | 1.4 |
| Nevada | $110,520 | $85,720 | $139,260 | 1,080 | 0.67 |
| New Hampshire | $83,900 | $64,150 | $115,050 | 1,240 | 1.74 |
| New Jersey | $103,410 | $78,690 | $159,230 | 6,290 | 1.41 |
| New Mexico | $99,170 | $69,230 | $133,050 | 1,030 | 1.14 |
| New York | $96,390 | $64,770 | $133,700 | 11,690 | 1.15 |
| North Carolina | $92,940 | $62,230 | $118,300 | 4,490 | 0.87 |
| North Dakota | $83,200 | $66,890 | $106,300 | 570 | 1.26 |
| Ohio | $99,390 | $70,080 | $123,800 | 6,760 | 1.17 |
| Oklahoma | $104,300 | $68,530 | $134,420 | 1,180 | 0.66 |
| Oregon | $112,310 | $78,500 | $131,340 | 1,170 | 0.57 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,440 | $69,120 | $128,790 | 6,560 | 1.04 |
| Puerto Rico | $51,850 | $43,460 | $99,900 | 170 | 0.18 |
| Rhode Island | $100,040 | $75,760 | $126,630 | 770 | 1.47 |
| South Carolina | $101,130 | $75,370 | $123,110 | 1,840 | 0.76 |
| South Dakota | $85,050 | $65,820 | $106,520 | 490 | 1.02 |
| Tennessee | $97,700 | $68,520 | $119,070 | 2,490 | 0.73 |
| Texas | $106,140 | $76,350 | $135,200 | 13,400 | 0.91 |
| Utah | $97,150 | $75,570 | $126,970 | 1,030 | 0.57 |
| Vermont | $93,340 | $69,120 | $118,110 | 320 | 1.02 |
| Virginia | $100,710 | $70,200 | $134,570 | 4,150 | 0.97 |
| Washington | $107,670 | $83,110 | $135,290 | 3,340 | 0.9 |
| West Virginia | $96,190 | $60,870 | $129,460 | 700 | 0.96 |
| Wisconsin | $92,390 | $73,610 | $110,950 | 3,710 | 1.21 |
| Wyoming | $86,170 | $57,740 | $127,790 | 350 | 1.2 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for occupational therapists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 10,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 2.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for occupational therapists
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Occupational Therapy/Therapist CIP 51.2306
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
- Complete and maintain necessary records.
- Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate persons with disabilities because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems.
- Plan and implement programs and social activities to help patients learn work or school skills and adjust to handicaps.
- Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.
- Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress.
- Train caregivers in providing for the needs of a patient during and after therapy.
- Lay out materials such as puzzles, scissors and eating utensils for use in therapy, and clean and repair these tools after therapy sessions.
Technology skills
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR
- Casamba Smart
- Computer drawing software
- Crick Software Clicker 4
- Duxbury Braille Translator
- Email software
- Fifth Walk BillingTracker
- FileMaker Pro
- HMS
- Language arts educational software
- Lexrotech LxPediatric
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Instructing, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Time Management.
Common job titles: Assistive Technology Trainer, Certified Hand Therapist (CHT), Early Intervention Occupational Therapist, Home Health Occupational Therapist, Industrial Rehabilitation Consultant, Occupational Therapist (OT), Pediatric Occupational Therapist (Pediatric OT), Pediatrics and Acute Care Occupational Therapist, Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do occupational therapists make?
The national median annual wage for occupational therapists was $100,330 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $71,690 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $131,950. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do occupational therapists need?
BLS lists master's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is occupational therapists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of occupational therapists to change +14.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 10,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay occupational therapists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($124,510), Oregon ($112,310), Nevada ($110,520). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.