Occupational Therapist Salary
Occupational therapists help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working after injury, illness, or disability. They design treatment plans, recommend adaptive equipment, and work across hospitals, schools, and rehabilitation centers.
National Salary Distribution
Top Paying Cities for Occupational Therapist
| # | City | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $136,770 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $122,050 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,040 |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | $121,680 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $112,100 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $109,860 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $107,500 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $106,160 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $106,110 |
| 10 | Richmond, VA | $105,550 |
Highest After Local Prices
| # | City | Price Level | At National Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | 98.1 | $124,457 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | 115.6 | $118,300 |
| 3 | Oklahoma City, OK | 90.4 | $114,016 |
| 4 | El Paso, TX | 89.9 | $112,922 |
| 5 | San Diego, CA | 111.9 | $108,753 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | 92.2 | $108,441 |
| 7 | Richmond, VA | 97.9 | $107,860 |
| 8 | Louisville, KY | 93.1 | $107,484 |
| 9 | Los Angeles, CA | 113.6 | $107,462 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | 105.4 | $106,336 |
Occupational Therapist Salary — All Cities
| City | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $123,550 | $136,770 | $155,030 | $171,460 | 1,560 |
| Austin, TX | $98,480 | $122,050 | $129,880 | $131,000 | 1,600 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $99,700 | $122,040 | $131,760 | $154,730 | 4,950 |
| San Diego, CA | $105,510 | $121,680 | $130,410 | $152,150 | 1,620 |
| Portland, OR | $99,800 | $112,100 | $128,590 | $131,710 | 730 |
| Seattle, WA | $97,140 | $109,860 | $129,930 | $138,050 | 2,020 |
| Denver, CO | $94,210 | $107,500 | $127,330 | $157,820 | 1,870 |
| Atlanta, GA | $86,860 | $106,160 | $122,970 | $131,010 | 2,120 |
| Dallas, TX | $84,280 | $106,110 | $126,840 | $145,780 | 3,450 |
| Richmond, VA | $84,130 | $105,550 | $118,670 | $122,460 | 740 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $85,970 | $105,060 | $123,640 | $133,680 | 2,070 |
| Houston, TX | $85,260 | $103,580 | $125,100 | $140,720 | 2,700 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $84,650 | $103,080 | $118,410 | $133,490 | 530 |
| Washington, DC | $93,140 | $102,960 | $128,850 | $138,150 | 2,640 |
| Boston, MA | $84,750 | $101,940 | $110,620 | $129,060 | 4,790 |
| El Paso, TX | $82,590 | $101,530 | $123,410 | $135,070 | 320 |
| Miami, FL | $80,850 | $101,480 | $106,480 | $120,910 | 2,550 |
| New York, NY | $84,130 | $101,460 | $127,030 | $144,090 | 11,640 |
| Nashville, TN | $82,110 | $100,630 | $107,250 | $121,840 | 710 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $84,040 | $100,080 | $105,730 | $124,680 | 1,660 |
| Louisville, KY | $81,440 | $100,040 | $112,850 | $126,420 | 710 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $85,380 | $99,980 | $104,260 | $128,860 | 510 |
| Memphis, TN | $83,790 | $99,960 | $110,720 | $123,460 | 420 |
| Chicago, IL | $82,390 | $99,860 | $111,170 | $136,160 | 5,960 |
| Columbus, OH | $82,090 | $98,920 | $106,970 | $119,710 | 1,370 |
| Charlotte, NC | $81,030 | $98,450 | $108,960 | $121,090 | 1,140 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $82,170 | $93,600 | $99,880 | $109,490 | 2,590 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $76,160 | $90,860 | $100,860 | $116,630 | 1,170 |
| Detroit, MI | $80,120 | $89,600 | $100,620 | $107,140 | 2,030 |
| Raleigh, NC | $74,910 | $84,080 | $106,650 | $121,210 | 680 |
5About the Occupational Therapist Role
Occupational therapists help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working after injury, illness, or disability. They design treatment plans, recommend adaptive equipment, and work across hospitals, schools, and rehabilitation centers.
Compensation for Occupational Therapists varies by metro — from $84,080 at the low end in Raleigh, NC to $136,770 in San Francisco, CA. The $52,690 gap is a gap in dollars. The second table above lists the 10 highest medians after each is restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, which can change the order.
For side-by-side comparisons between specific metros, use the compare links above or the salary calculator. For state-level figures, see occupational therapist salary by state, or browse all occupations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Occupational Therapist salary in the US?
The national median Occupational Therapist salary is $100,330 per year, per the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimate. The 25th percentile is $82,510 and the 90th percentile reaches $131,950.
Which city pays Occupational Therapists the most?
Among the 30 metro areas covered here, San Francisco, CA has the highest median wage for Occupational Therapists at $136,770 per year (BLS OEWS May 2025). Austin, TX ($122,050) and Los Angeles, CA ($122,040) are next.