Occupational Therapists · North Carolina

Occupational Therapists Salary in North Carolina

Occupational Therapists in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $92,940 —7.4% below the national median of $100,330. That ranks NC #42 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$92,940
Median hourly
$44.68
Entry level (P10)
$62,230
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$118,300
90th percentile
Employment
4,490
0.9 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-7.4%
U.S. $100,330

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$62,230
$77,510
$92,940
$104,820
$62,230$92,940$118,300
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $92,940.

Employment concentration (0.87×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for occupational therapists

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$124,510$59.8613,8100.73
2Oregon$112,310$54.001,1700.57
3Nevada$110,520$53.131,0800.67
4District of Columbia$109,170$52.495400.74
5Washington$107,670$51.773,3400.90
6Maryland$106,980$51.432,3900.83
7Colorado$106,720$51.313,3901.13
8Arkansas$106,360$51.142,1601.59
9Texas$106,140$51.0313,4000.91
10Oklahoma$104,300$50.141,1800.66

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

OccupationNorth Carolina medianU.S. median
Registered Nurses$84,350$97,550
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,270$64,400
Pharmacy Technicians$44,530$45,750
Physicians, All Other$260,330$265,930
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$60,650$62,930
Nurse Practitioners$128,990$132,300

Frequently asked questions

How much do occupational therapists make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for occupational therapists in North Carolina is $92,940, or $44.68 per hour. That is 7.4% below the national median of $100,330.

What is the entry-level occupational therapists salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $62,230 per year ($29.92/hour). The 25th percentile is $77,510.

How many people work as occupational therapists in North Carolina?

About 4,490 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 0.9 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for occupational therapists?

North Carolina ranks #42 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.87x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays occupational therapists the most?

California has the highest median wage at $124,510 per year, followed by Oregon ($112,310) and Nevada ($110,520).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes