Occupational Therapist Salary in Chicago, IL
Occupational Therapists in Chicago, IL earn a median of $70,000/year, ranging from $53,900 (25th percentile) to $112,000 (90th percentile). After Illinois state taxes (4.95%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 107), this is equivalent to $65,421 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Chicago, IL
Chicago's occupational therapy market is one of the largest in the Midwest, anchored by the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab — the top-ranked rehabilitation hospital nationally — plus Rush, Northwestern Memorial, and Lurie Children's Hospital. Chicago Public Schools also employs a significant number of school-based occupational therapists.
1Salary Distribution in Chicago, IL
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Chicago, IL Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL (current) | $70,000 | 107 | $65,421 |
| San Francisco, CA | $96,000 | 186 | $51,613 |
| New York, NY | $92,000 | 187 | $49,198 |
| Seattle, WA | $94,000 | 162 | $58,025 |
| Boston, MA | $85,000 | 162 | $52,469 |
| Austin, TX | $77,000 | 124 | $62,097 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Occupational Therapist salary in Chicago, IL?
The median Occupational Therapist salary in Chicago, IL is $70,000 per year, based on 2026 BLS OEWS-calibrated estimates. The 25th percentile is $53,900 and the 90th percentile is $112,000.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a Occupational Therapist?
Chicago, IL has a cost of living index of 107 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $70,000 Occupational Therapist salary in Chicago, IL is equivalent to $65,421 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Chicago, IL?
Chicago, IL has a cost of living index of 107, meaning it is 7% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Illinois is approximately 4.95%.
What is the Occupational Therapist salary range in Chicago, IL?
In Chicago, IL, Occupational Therapists earn between $53,900 (25th percentile) and $112,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $70,000 per year.
How many Occupational Therapist jobs are there in Chicago, IL?
We estimate approximately 52,500 Occupational Therapist positions in the Chicago, IL metropolitan area. This employment figure is a modeled estimate calibrated to BLS OEWS staffing patterns, not a direct BLS metro count for this occupation.
What do Occupational Therapists earn in Chicago, IL?
Based on 2026 BLS OEWS-calibrated estimates, Occupational Therapists in Chicago, IL earn a median annual wage of $70,000. The middle 50% earn between $53,900 and $89,600. The top 10% earn more than $112,000. There are approximately 52,500 Occupational Therapists employed in the Chicago, IL metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 3.1%.
Is Chicago, IL a good place for a Occupational Therapist?
Chicago, IL has a cost of living index of 107 (US average = 100), making it 7% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Occupational Therapist in Chicago, IL earning $70,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $65,421 relative to the US median. Illinois has a state income tax rate of approximately 4.95%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Chicago, IL?
Chicago, IL's cost of living index is 107, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $70,000 in Chicago, ILhas the same purchasing power as $65,421 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Chicago, IL with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Occupational Therapist in Chicago, IL?
The headline median of $70,000 is only part of the picture. Chicago, IL's cost of living index is 107 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 93¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $70,000 salary effectively purchases $65,421 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Chicago, IL, housing costs fall closer to the national average of 25–30% of gross income, leaving more room in the budget for savings, transportation, and discretionary spending. For a $70,000 salary, that translates to roughly $19,600/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Illinois levies a state income tax of approximately 4.95%, which reduces take-home by roughly $3,465 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $61,478. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($96,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($92,000 median, COL 187); Seattle, WA ($94,000 median, COL 162). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 3.1% year-over-year growth rate for Occupational Therapists in Chicago, IL is a leading indicator of market health. Healthy growth at a steady pace — enough to support mobility but not so fast that compensation is racing ahead of credentials. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Occupational Therapists or the Illinois state overview.
Underlying wage source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. These figures are modeled estimates: scaled from BLS OEWS wage ratios rather than read directly from a BLS metro table for this occupation. Treat them as approximations. All figures are approximate annual estimates. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data. See our data disclaimer.