How much does an occupational therapist make? Occupational Therapist salary and hourly pay
An occupational therapist in the US earns a median of $100,330 a year, about $48.24 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $71,690 and the top 10% earn over $131,950. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, California, has a median of $124,510.
Occupational Therapist pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure Ă· 2,080 hours (40 hours Ă 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does an occupational therapist make an hour?
The median occupational therapist earns $48.24 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $34.47 for the lowest-paid 10% to $63.44 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $71,690 | $34.47 |
| Lower 25% | $82,510 | $39.67 |
| Median (typical) | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| Upper 25% | $116,670 | $56.09 |
| Top 10% | $131,950 | $63.44 |
Occupational Therapist salary by state
Median annual pay for occupational therapists in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | â Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $94,050 | $45.22 |
| Alaska | $103,680 | $49.85 |
| Arizona | $103,660 | $49.84 |
| Arkansas | $106,360 | $51.13 |
| California | $124,510 | $59.86 |
| Colorado | $106,720 | $51.31 |
| Connecticut | $102,440 | $49.25 |
| Delaware | $102,130 | $49.10 |
| District of Columbia | $109,170 | $52.49 |
| Florida | $99,360 | $47.77 |
| Georgia | $104,010 | $50.00 |
| Hawaii | $102,870 | $49.46 |
| Idaho | $97,760 | $47.00 |
| Illinois | $99,700 | $47.93 |
| Indiana | $97,020 | $46.64 |
| Iowa | $89,910 | $43.23 |
| Kansas | $99,170 | $47.68 |
| Kentucky | $97,650 | $46.95 |
| Louisiana | $98,490 | $47.35 |
| Maine | $84,310 | $40.53 |
| Maryland | $106,980 | $51.43 |
| Massachusetts | $100,930 | $48.52 |
| Michigan | $89,910 | $43.23 |
| Minnesota | $93,050 | $44.74 |
| Mississippi | $94,930 | $45.64 |
| Missouri | $97,290 | $46.77 |
| Montana | $88,990 | $42.78 |
| Nebraska | $93,740 | $45.07 |
| Nevada | $110,520 | $53.13 |
| New Hampshire | $83,900 | $40.34 |
| New Jersey | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| New Mexico | $99,170 | $47.68 |
| New York | $96,390 | $46.34 |
| North Carolina | $92,940 | $44.68 |
| North Dakota | $83,200 | $40.00 |
| Ohio | $99,390 | $47.78 |
| Oklahoma | $104,300 | $50.14 |
| Oregon | $112,310 | $54.00 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,440 | $47.33 |
| Rhode Island | $100,040 | $48.10 |
| South Carolina | $101,130 | $48.62 |
| South Dakota | $85,050 | $40.89 |
| Tennessee | $97,700 | $46.97 |
| Texas | $106,140 | $51.03 |
| Utah | $97,150 | $46.71 |
| Vermont | $93,340 | $44.88 |
| Virginia | $100,710 | $48.42 |
| Washington | $107,670 | $51.76 |
| West Virginia | $96,190 | $46.25 |
| Wisconsin | $92,390 | $44.42 |
| Wyoming | $86,170 | $41.43 |
Highest-paying states for occupational therapists
- California: $124,510 median
- Oregon: $112,310 median
- Nevada: $110,520 median
- District of Columbia: $109,170 median
- Washington: $107,670 median
The lowest medians are in North Dakota ($83,200), New Hampshire ($83,900), Maine ($84,310), South Dakota ($85,050), Wyoming ($86,170). The most occupational therapist jobs are in California (13,810 jobs), Texas (13,400 jobs), New York (11,690 jobs), Florida (10,650 jobs), Illinois (7,710 jobs).
How much does an occupational therapist make a month?
At the median salary of $100,330, an occupational therapist earns about $8,361 a month, $3,859 every two weeks or $1,929 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced occupational therapist pay
New occupational therapists typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $71,690 a year and the lowest 25% under $82,510. The top 25% earn over $116,670 and the top 10% over $131,950. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Occupational Therapist salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Occupational therapist | $100,330 |
| Medical assistant | $45,690 |
| Surgical tech | $64,650 |
| Radiology tech | $80,110 |
| Ultrasound tech | $96,590 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 |
Common questions
How much does an occupational therapist make?
The US median is $100,330 a year ($48.24 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does an occupational therapist make an hour?
The median is about $48.24 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $34.47 and the top 10% about $63.44 an hour.
Which state pays occupational therapists the most?
California has the highest median at $124,510, followed by Oregon ($112,310) and Nevada ($110,520).
How much does an occupational therapist make a month?
At the US median of $100,330 a year, about $8,361 a month or $3,859 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level occupational therapist make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $71,690 a year and the lowest 25% under $82,510, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of occupational therapists make?
The top 10% earn over $131,950 a year; the top 25% earn over $116,670.
How much does an occupational therapist make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $124,510 in California, $106,140 in Texas, $99,360 in Florida, $96,390 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 29-1122, âOccupational Therapistsâ), the most recent official release; âmedianâ means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.