Average Salary for Occupational Therapists
SOC 29-1122 · Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Occupational Therapists in the United States is $98,340 ($47.28/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $67,090 at the 10th percentile to $129,830 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 152,280 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 24.8% since 2014.
Median Annual
$98,340
Mean Annual
$98,240
10th Pct
$67,090
75th Pct
$110,460
Employment
152,280
Salary Distribution
$67k
10th
$80k
25th
$98k
Median
$110k
75th
$130k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $134,720 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $133,850 |
| Vallejo, CA | $129,830 |
| Chico, CA | $128,980 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $128,960 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $126,220 |
| Napa, CA | $124,680 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $123,900 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $119,920 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $119,550 |
| Modesto, CA | $118,790 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $118,500 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $115,380 |
| Salinas, CA | $112,380 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $112,050 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| California | $119,470 |
| Oregon | $106,840 |
| Nevada | $104,770 |
| Colorado | $103,970 |
| Oklahoma | $103,510 |
| New Jersey | $103,340 |
| Washington | $102,360 |
| Arizona | $102,220 |
| Connecticut | $102,080 |
| Maryland | $101,880 |
| Texas | $101,760 |
| Virginia | $100,540 |
| Alaska | $100,070 |
| Arkansas | $99,350 |
| District of Columbia | $99,290 |
| New Mexico | $99,220 |
| Rhode Island | $99,150 |
| Florida | $99,070 |
| Illinois | $98,900 |
| Georgia | $98,690 |
| Massachusetts | $98,420 |
| South Carolina | $97,370 |
| Kansas | $97,000 |
| Delaware | $96,080 |
| Tennessee | $96,030 |
| Ohio | $95,880 |
| Alabama | $95,410 |
| New York | $95,370 |
| North Carolina | $94,580 |
| Hawaii | $94,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $94,120 |
| Louisiana | $94,030 |
| Missouri | $93,600 |
| Indiana | $93,500 |
| Utah | $93,310 |
| West Virginia | $93,260 |
| Mississippi | $92,330 |
| Kentucky | $91,250 |
| Wyoming | $89,370 |
| Iowa | $88,780 |
| Idaho | $88,470 |
| Nebraska | $87,010 |
| Wisconsin | $86,660 |
| Vermont | $86,420 |
| Minnesota | $85,040 |
| New Hampshire | $84,980 |
| Michigan | $84,480 |
| Montana | $84,440 |
| Maine | $82,200 |
| South Dakota | $81,430 |
| North Dakota | $79,910 |
| Puerto Rico | $47,590 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Occupational Therapists broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $104,870 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $104,870 |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | $104,660 |
| Finance and Insurance | $104,660 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $104,560 |
| Educational Support Services | $104,000 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $103,390 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $103,390 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $103,210 |
| Home Health Care Services | $103,010 |
| Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $102,620 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $101,330 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | $101,210 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $101,210 |
| Hospitals | $100,760 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $100,670 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $99,190 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $99,080 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $98,820 |
| Offices of Physicians | $98,750 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $97,970 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $97,760 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $97,760 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $97,760 |
| Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists | $96,380 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $96,090 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities | $94,750 |
| Offices of Chiropractors | $94,000 |
| Temporary Help Services | $92,260 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $91,830 |
| All Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $91,640 |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | $91,640 |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | $89,750 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $88,230 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $87,950 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $87,430 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $87,430 |
| Employment Services | $86,290 |
| Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) | $85,750 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $84,800 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $84,150 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $84,030 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $84,030 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $84,020 |
| Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | $84,010 |
| Individual and Family Services | $83,890 |
| Educational Services | $83,890 |
| Educational Services | $82,040 |
| Social Assistance | $81,810 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $81,690 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $80,950 |
| Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers | $80,670 |
| Child Care Services | $80,500 |
| Other Residential Care Facilities | $80,260 |
| Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities | $79,880 |
| Offices of All Other Health Practitioners | $78,380 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services | $74,890 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $60,550 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $60,550 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $60,540 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $60,540 |
| Offices of Optometrists | $42,150 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $98,340 |
| 2023 | $96,370 |
| 2022 | $93,180 |
| 2021 | $85,570 |
| 2020 | $86,280 |
| 2019 | $84,950 |
| 2018 | $84,270 |
| 2017 | $83,200 |
| 2016 | $81,910 |
| 2015 | $80,150 |
| 2014 | $78,810 |