The average salary for an occupational therapist in the United States is around $65,723 per year.
Avg Salary
Occupational therapists earn an average yearly salary of $65,723.
Wages typically start from $44,472 and go up to $97,128.
4% above national average Updated in 2023
Occupational therapist earnings by seniority
Top-level occupational therapist earnings begin at:
$46.70 per hour
$97,128 per year
Senior-level occupational therapist earnings begin at:
$38.81 per hour
$80,723 per year
Mid-level occupational therapist earnings begin at:
$31.60 per hour
$65,723 per year
Junior-level occupational therapist earnings begin at:
$25.73 per hour
$53,511 per year
Starting level occupational therapist earnings begin at:
$21.38 per hour
$44,472 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Occupational therapist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Nevada | $99,540 |
| Alaska | $99,340 |
| New Jersey | $99,340 |
| Washington | $97,120 |
| Virginia | $96,480 |
| Oregon | $96,130 |
| Connecticut | $95,950 |
| Massachusetts | $95,870 |
| Rhode Island | $95,870 |
| Colorado | $95,620 |
| Louisiana | $95,590 |
| Texas | $95,590 |
| South Carolina | $94,980 |
| Hawaii | $93,980 |
| New York | $92,420 |
| Tennessee | $92,320 |
| Oklahoma | $90,330 |
| Delaware | $89,840 |
| New Mexico | $89,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,920 |
| Kansas | $83,760 |
| Alabama | $83,370 |
| Mississippi | $82,200 |
| Florida | $81,780 |
| Utah | $81,630 |
| Maryland | $80,800 |
| Illinois | $80,780 |
| Arizona | $80,690 |
| Ohio | $80,010 |
| Georgia | $79,240 |
| West Virginia | $79,170 |
| New Hampshire | $79,100 |
| Montana | $78,930 |
| North Carolina | $78,870 |
| Indiana | $78,670 |
| Kentucky | $78,510 |
| Missouri | $78,440 |
| District of Columbia | $78,430 |
| Nebraska | $78,420 |
| Idaho | $78,180 |
| Iowa | $78,050 |
| Minnesota | $77,910 |
| Michigan | $77,750 |
| Vermont | $77,750 |
| Arkansas | $77,630 |
| Wyoming | $77,630 |
| Wisconsin | $77,570 |
| Maine | $76,730 |
| North Dakota | $75,770 |
| South Dakota | $75,570 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,490 |
| California | $100,510 |
How do occupational therapist salaries compare to similar careers?
Occupational therapists earn 12% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than optometrists but more than physical therapists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Optometrist salary | $96K |
| Geneticist salary | $96K |
| MRI technologist salary | $84K |
| Epidemiologist salary | $73K |
| Microbiologist salary | $63K |
| Occupational therapist salary | $66K |
| Operations research analyst salary | $65K |
| Hearing aid specialist salary | $60K |
| Chiropractor salary | $56K |
| Physical therapist salary | $61K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)