Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
Senior Occupational Therapist Salary (2026)
Senior occupational therapists earn approximately $118,499 per year as of 2026, based on the 75th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the standard proxy for experienced specialists, technical leads, and managers with 10+ years in the field. Across U.S. metros, senior pay ranges from $93,770 (lowest-paying) to $154,115 (highest-paying).
This page answers a common U.S. wage question: Senior Occupational Therapist Salary (2026). The answer draws on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — the federal survey that captures wages for over 800 occupations across every U.S. metropolitan area. Why BLS OEWS data is the right anchor: alternative wage sources (Glassdoor, levels.fyi, Payscale) are self-reported and skew toward specific roles, industries, or geographies. BLS OEWS is employer-reported, mandatory for businesses above the survey threshold, and uniformly applied across occupations and metros.
The detailed answer below uses the BLS numbers, explains how to read them, and translates the statistical detail into the worker-relevant interpretation of the question.
75th percentile across U.S. metros, employment-weighted
What This Pay Level Means
The 75th percentile is the BLS-published wage below which 75% of workers in this occupation earn — i.e., the wage at which only the top quarter earn more. It is the standard anchor for "senior" pay: experienced specialists, technical leads, and managers. If you have 10+ years and your current pay is below this, the BLS data is a strong negotiation lever.
For mid-career workers (5–10 years), the median (50th percentile) is the right benchmark. For top earners and principal-level specialists, the 90th percentile applies. See "How much do occupational therapists make?" and "Top 10% occupational therapist salary" for those bands.
Top-Paying Metros at This Level
| Metro | Senior Pay |
|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $154,115 |
| San Jose, CA | $153,430 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $139,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $138,860 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $138,385 |
What the Numbers Tell You
Geographic pay variation for Occupational Therapists is meaningful but moderate — top metros pay roughly 1.7× the lowest, a $58,100 spread. Cost of living plus a modest premium for high-demand metros explains most of it.
Occupational Therapist is a smaller occupation, with about 99,840 workers tracked. Individual employers can move the local market noticeably.
Other Pay Levels for Occupational Therapists
Each percentile band targets a distinct experience level — see the dedicated page for your career stage:
- Entry-level occupational therapist salary →
- Junior occupational therapist salary →
- How much do occupational therapists make →
- Top 10% occupational therapist salary →
How This Salary Is Calculated
Wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — an annual survey of about 1.2 million U.S. establishments published by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and Metropolitan Statistical Area. The figure on this page is employment-weighted across 70 BLS-tracked metros for SOC code 29-1122. The mapping from BLS percentiles to experience bands (entry / junior / mid / senior / top 10%) follows the convention used by the U.S. Department of Labor's prevailing wage system. See full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Senior Occupational Therapist Salary (2026)?
Senior occupational therapists earn approximately $118,499 per year as of 2026, based on the 75th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the standard proxy for experienced specialists, technical leads, and managers with 10+ years in the field. Across U.S. metros, senior pay ranges from $93,770 (lowest-paying) to $154,115 (highest-paying).
How does this percentile compare to the median?
Occupational Therapists have a national median (50th percentile) of $102,783. The 75th percentile shown on this page ($118,499) is 15% above the median — typical for this experience band.
Where do occupational therapists at this level earn the most?
San Francisco, CA pays the highest at this percentile band — $154,115. Lowest-paying tracked metro: Des Moines, IA at $93,770.
What years of experience does this percentile represent?
The 75th percentile is the BLS-published wage below which 75% of workers in this occupation earn — i.e., the wage at which only the top quarter earn more. It is the standard anchor for "senior" pay: experienced specialists, technical leads, and managers. If you have 10+ years and your current pay is below this, the BLS data is a strong negotiation lever.
Where does this occupational therapist salary data come from?
Every wage figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — an annual federal survey of more than 1 million U.S. employers. The percentile figure on this page is employment-weighted across BLS-tracked metros.
Senior occupational therapists earn approximately $118,499 per year as of 2026, based on the 75th percentile of Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wage data — the standard proxy for experienced specialists, technical leads, and managers with 10+ years in the field. Across U.S. metros, senior pay ranges from $93,770 (lowest-paying) to $154,115 (highest-paying).