Occupational Therapist Salaries: Healthcare's Rehabilitation Specialists

Occupational therapists (OTs) help patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities perform daily activities. Like physical therapists, the entry-level credential is now a master's degree — and wages reflect the graduate-level requirement and strong clinical demand across aging populations.

National Wage Overview

OT wages sit near the wages of physical therapists — both occupations require master's degrees, both work heavily in rehabilitation settings, and both experience strong demand from an aging patient population. Browse wages in the Healthcare Practitioners group for a full comparison.

Pediatric vs. Geriatric Settings

OTs working in pediatric settings (schools and early intervention programs) tend to earn less than those in hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF) settings. The SNF and home health settings typically pay premiums to attract OTs willing to work with elderly patients in higher-acuity situations.

Travel OT Premium

Travel occupational therapist contracts — particularly for SNF and acute care settings — can pay 20–50% more than staff positions in the same settings. BLS OEWS captures staff wages primarily; the true ceiling for mobile OTs is higher.

Highest-Paying States

Nevada, California, and Texas often rank among the top states for OT wages. Browse all states at WageDepth locations.