Occupational Therapist Salary in Salt Lake City, UT
Occupational Therapists in Salt Lake City, UT earn a median of $66,000/year, ranging from $50,820 (25th percentile) to $105,600 (90th percentile). After Utah state taxes (4.65%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 112), this is equivalent to $58,929 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City's occupational therapy demand is driven by Intermountain Health's extensive network, the University of Utah Health system, and a growing pediatric therapy sector. Utah's younger-than-average population creates above-average demand for pediatric OT, while the ski industry generates seasonal sports rehabilitation volume.
1Salary Distribution in Salt Lake City, UT
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 Salt Lake City, UT Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT (current) | $66,000 | 112 | $58,929 |
| 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 Salt Lake City, UT?
The median Occupational Therapist salary in Salt Lake City, UT is $66,000 per year, based on 2026 BLS OEWS-calibrated estimates. The 25th percentile is $50,820 and the 90th percentile is $105,600.
Is Salt Lake City, UT a good place to work as a Occupational Therapist?
Salt Lake City, UT has a cost of living index of 112 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $66,000 Occupational Therapist salary in Salt Lake City, UT is equivalent to $58,929 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Salt Lake City, UT?
Salt Lake City, UT has a cost of living index of 112, meaning it is 12% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Utah is approximately 4.65%.
What is the Occupational Therapist salary range in Salt Lake City, UT?
In Salt Lake City, UT, Occupational Therapists earn between $50,820 (25th percentile) and $105,600 (90th percentile), with a median of $66,000 per year.
How many Occupational Therapist jobs are there in Salt Lake City, UT?
We estimate approximately 27,000 Occupational Therapist positions in the Salt Lake City, UT 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 Salt Lake City, UT?
Based on 2026 BLS OEWS-calibrated estimates, Occupational Therapists in Salt Lake City, UT earn a median annual wage of $66,000. The middle 50% earn between $50,820 and $84,480. The top 10% earn more than $105,600. There are approximately 27,000 Occupational Therapists employed in the Salt Lake City, UT metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 6.8%.
Is Salt Lake City, UT a good place for a Occupational Therapist?
Salt Lake City, UT has a cost of living index of 112 (US average = 100), making it 12% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Occupational Therapist in Salt Lake City, UT earning $66,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $58,929 relative to the US median. Utah has a state income tax rate of approximately 4.65%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Salt Lake City, UT?
Salt Lake City, UT's cost of living index is 112, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $66,000 in Salt Lake City, UThas the same purchasing power as $58,929 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 Salt Lake City, UT with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Occupational Therapist in Salt Lake City, UT?
The headline median of $66,000 is only part of the picture. Salt Lake City, UT's cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 89¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $66,000 salary effectively purchases $58,929 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Salt Lake City, UT, housing typically runs 28–35% of gross income for median earners — elevated but still within traditional affordability ranges. For a $66,000 salary, that translates to roughly $21,120/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Utah levies a state income tax of approximately 4.65%, which reduces take-home by roughly $3,069 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 $58,148. 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 6.8% year-over-year growth rate for Occupational Therapists in Salt Lake City, UT is a leading indicator of market health. Above-average hiring pace suggests strong negotiating leverage, frequent counter-offer opportunities, and a deep pipeline of open roles. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Occupational Therapists or the Utah 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.