Occupational Therapists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for occupational therapists is $100,330, or $48.24 per hour. About 162,450 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $124,510 in California to $83,200 in North Dakota.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $124,510 | $59.86 | 13,810 | 0.73 |
| 2 | Oregon | $112,310 | $54.00 | 1,170 | 0.57 |
| 3 | Nevada | $110,520 | $53.13 | 1,080 | 0.67 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $109,170 | $52.49 | 540 | 0.74 |
| 5 | Washington | $107,670 | $51.77 | 3,340 | 0.90 |
| 6 | Maryland | $106,980 | $51.43 | 2,390 | 0.83 |
| 7 | Colorado | $106,720 | $51.31 | 3,390 | 1.13 |
| 8 | Arkansas | $106,360 | $51.14 | 2,160 | 1.59 |
| 9 | Texas | $106,140 | $51.03 | 13,400 | 0.91 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | $104,300 | $50.14 | 1,180 | 0.66 |
| 11 | Georgia | $104,010 | $50.01 | 3,650 | 0.72 |
| 12 | Alaska | $103,680 | $49.85 | 410 | 1.20 |
| 13 | Arizona | $103,660 | $49.84 | 2,680 | 0.79 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $103,410 | $49.72 | 6,290 | 1.41 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $102,870 | $49.46 | 390 | 0.60 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $102,440 | $49.25 | 3,150 | 1.77 |
| 17 | Delaware | $102,130 | $49.10 | 490 | 0.96 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $101,130 | $48.62 | 1,840 | 0.76 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $100,930 | $48.53 | 6,510 | 1.71 |
| 20 | Virginia | $100,710 | $48.42 | 4,150 | 0.97 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $100,040 | $48.10 | 770 | 1.47 |
| 22 | Illinois | $99,700 | $47.93 | 7,710 | 1.21 |
| 23 | Ohio | $99,390 | $47.78 | 6,760 | 1.17 |
| 24 | Florida | $99,360 | $47.77 | 10,650 | 1.03 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $99,170 | $47.68 | 1,030 | 1.14 |
| 26 | Kansas | $99,170 | $47.68 | 1,560 | 1.04 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $98,490 | $47.35 | 2,060 | 1.02 |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $98,440 | $47.33 | 6,560 | 1.04 |
| 29 | Idaho | $97,760 | $47.00 | 840 | 0.93 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $97,700 | $46.97 | 2,490 | 0.73 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $97,650 | $46.95 | 2,190 | 1.05 |
| 32 | Missouri | $97,290 | $46.77 | 3,400 | 1.11 |
| 33 | Utah | $97,150 | $46.71 | 1,030 | 0.57 |
| 34 | Indiana | $97,020 | $46.65 | 3,830 | 1.14 |
| 35 | New York | $96,390 | $46.34 | 11,690 | 1.15 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $96,190 | $46.25 | 700 | 0.96 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $94,930 | $45.64 | 1,340 | 1.10 |
| 38 | Alabama | $94,050 | $45.21 | 1,500 | 0.68 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $93,740 | $45.07 | 1,500 | 1.40 |
| 40 | Vermont | $93,340 | $44.87 | 320 | 1.02 |
| 41 | Minnesota | $93,050 | $44.74 | 3,670 | 1.19 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $92,940 | $44.68 | 4,490 | 0.87 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $92,390 | $44.42 | 3,710 | 1.21 |
| 44 | Michigan | $89,910 | $43.23 | 5,120 | 1.11 |
| 45 | Iowa | $89,910 | $43.22 | 1,290 | 0.79 |
| 46 | Montana | $88,990 | $42.79 | 420 | 0.79 |
| 47 | Wyoming | $86,170 | $41.43 | 350 | 1.20 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $85,050 | $40.89 | 490 | 1.02 |
| 49 | Maine | $84,310 | $40.53 | 1,120 | 1.68 |
| 50 | New Hampshire | $83,900 | $40.34 | 1,240 | 1.74 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $83,200 | $40.00 | 570 | 1.26 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do occupational therapists make?
The median annual wage for occupational therapists in the United States is $100,330, or $48.24 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $71,690, and the top 10% earn $131,950.
How many occupational therapists are employed in the U.S.?
About 162,450 people work as occupational therapists nationwide.
Which state pays occupational therapists the most?
California pays the most at a median of $124,510, followed by Oregon ($112,310) and Nevada ($110,520).
Which state pays occupational therapists the least?
North Dakota has the lowest median at $83,200.
Where are occupational therapists jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Connecticut at 1.77×.