Occupational Therapists Salary 2025: $102,783 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$102,783 per year is the national median annual wage for occupational therapists (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $49/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $97,450 to $169,990. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 29-1122.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $102,783
- Median hourly wage
- $49/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $104,248
- Total US employment
- 99,840
- Top-paying metro
- San Jose, CA, CA ($136,870)
- BLS SOC code
- 29-1122
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Occupational Therapist (SOC 29-1122) is a high-paying U.S. occupation: national median wage of $102,783 across 99,840 reported workers per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
Cross-city wage variation runs moderate — $78,770 to $136,870 median across 70 cities, about 74% above the floor. The spread is large enough to matter for relocation decisions but not large enough to dominate them. Occupational Therapist is in the Healthcare category — wages here reflect a regulated labor market with state-specific licensing and credentialing, which constrains supply more than it does in unregulated fields.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Occupational Therapists salaries range from $78,770 to $136,870 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Occupational Therapists Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $97,450 | $113,218 | $136,870 | $153,430 | $169,990 | $69,903 | 840 |
| San Francisco, CA | $96,250 | $112,458 | $136,770 | $154,115 | $171,460 | $76,153 | 1,560 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $79,590 | $97,034 | $123,200 | $139,600 | $156,000 | $122,465 | 170 |
| Sacramento, CA | $94,910 | $106,058 | $122,780 | $138,860 | $154,940 | $98,460 | 810 |
| Austin, TX | $80,040 | $96,844 | $122,050 | $126,525 | $131,000 | $118,495 | 1,600 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $82,840 | $98,520 | $122,040 | $138,385 | $154,730 | $73,518 | 4,950 |
| San Diego, CA | $92,790 | $104,346 | $121,680 | $136,915 | $152,150 | $75,955 | 1,620 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $86,490 | $99,706 | $119,530 | $135,010 | $150,490 | $97,655 | 1,110 |
| Fresno, CA | $93,720 | $102,908 | $116,690 | $133,720 | $150,750 | $110,607 | 320 |
| Portland, OR | $85,490 | $96,134 | $112,100 | $121,905 | $131,710 | $86,164 | 730 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $86,120 | $95,880 | $110,520 | $126,140 | $141,760 | $101,394 | 860 |
| Seattle, WA | $83,650 | $94,134 | $109,860 | $123,955 | $138,050 | $73,534 | 2,020 |
| Reno, NV | $88,040 | $96,460 | $109,090 | $117,170 | $125,250 | $102,432 | 170 |
| Tulsa, OK | $70,790 | $85,814 | $108,350 | $122,160 | $135,970 | $124,827 | 370 |
| San Antonio, TX | $75,690 | $88,474 | $107,650 | $119,635 | $131,620 | $117,650 | 1,780 |
| Denver, CO | $79,170 | $90,502 | $107,500 | $132,660 | $157,820 | $95,301 | 1,870 |
| Atlanta, GA | $76,600 | $88,424 | $106,160 | $118,585 | $131,010 | $107,016 | 2,120 |
| Dallas, TX | $76,960 | $88,620 | $106,110 | $125,945 | $145,780 | $101,931 | 3,450 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $81,370 | $91,134 | $105,780 | $135,045 | $164,310 | $101,225 | 520 |
| Richmond, VA | $76,930 | $88,378 | $105,550 | $114,005 | $122,460 | $103,379 | 740 |
| Baltimore, MD | $74,050 | $86,626 | $105,490 | $117,225 | $128,960 | $92,373 | 1,200 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $77,970 | $88,878 | $105,240 | $120,345 | $135,450 | $76,538 | 750 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $78,160 | $88,920 | $105,060 | $119,370 | $133,680 | $104,330 | 2,070 |
| Little Rock, AR | $65,160 | $80,968 | $104,680 | $121,150 | $137,620 | $118,685 | 760 |
| Anchorage, AK | $82,320 | $90,864 | $103,680 | $118,930 | $134,180 | $81,638 | 300 |
| Houston, TX | $78,790 | $88,706 | $103,580 | $122,150 | $140,720 | $107,337 | 2,700 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $77,130 | $87,534 | $103,140 | $117,405 | $131,670 | $87,111 | 3,410 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $66,560 | $81,168 | $103,080 | $118,285 | $133,490 | $119,168 | 530 |
| Washington, DC | $79,650 | $88,974 | $102,960 | $120,555 | $138,150 | $67,382 | 2,640 |
| New Orleans, LA | $64,890 | $79,942 | $102,520 | $113,695 | $124,870 | $106,903 | 390 |
| Greenville, SC | $75,710 | $86,362 | $102,340 | $109,425 | $116,510 | $113,585 | 400 |
| Boston, MA | $74,670 | $85,578 | $101,940 | $115,500 | $129,060 | $67,022 | 4,790 |
| Miami, FL | $66,670 | $80,594 | $101,480 | $111,195 | $120,910 | $82,437 | 2,550 |
| New York, NY | $72,380 | $84,012 | $101,460 | $122,775 | $144,090 | $54,199 | 11,640 |
| Tucson, AZ | $80,550 | $88,698 | $100,920 | $112,990 | $125,060 | $105,786 | 310 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $79,250 | $87,898 | $100,870 | $114,745 | $128,620 | $110,603 | 1,360 |
| Nashville, TN | $70,590 | $82,606 | $100,630 | $111,235 | $121,840 | $100,329 | 710 |
| Hartford, CT | $75,560 | $85,564 | $100,570 | $110,815 | $121,060 | $89,316 | 1,140 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $78,280 | $87,000 | $100,080 | $112,380 | $124,680 | $111,077 | 1,660 |
| Louisville, KY | $75,640 | $85,400 | $100,040 | $113,230 | $126,420 | $110,909 | 710 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $78,490 | $87,086 | $99,980 | $114,420 | $128,860 | $98,600 | 510 |
| Memphis, TN | $75,350 | $85,194 | $99,960 | $111,710 | $123,460 | $119,000 | 420 |
| Chicago, IL | $73,900 | $84,284 | $99,860 | $118,010 | $136,160 | $93,066 | 5,960 |
| Kansas City, MO | $70,890 | $82,470 | $99,840 | $111,400 | $122,960 | $104,654 | 1,360 |
| Orlando, FL | $64,410 | $78,454 | $99,520 | $111,290 | $123,060 | $96,528 | 1,160 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $74,730 | $84,574 | $99,340 | $107,180 | $115,020 | $104,458 | 890 |
| Spokane, WA | $81,480 | $88,600 | $99,280 | $112,040 | $124,800 | $101,930 | 320 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $74,150 | $84,158 | $99,170 | $116,110 | $133,050 | $105,500 | 550 |
| Wichita, KS | $74,070 | $84,042 | $99,000 | $109,845 | $120,690 | $117,857 | 320 |
| Columbus, OH | $65,060 | $78,604 | $98,920 | $109,315 | $119,710 | $106,251 | 1,370 |
| Charlotte, NC | $63,710 | $77,606 | $98,450 | $109,770 | $121,090 | $101,810 | 1,140 |
| Boise, ID | $74,320 | $83,800 | $98,020 | $129,385 | $160,750 | $96,004 | 420 |
| Providence, RI | $72,080 | $82,448 | $98,000 | $112,220 | $126,440 | $82,077 | 1,130 |
| Tampa, FL | $75,520 | $84,400 | $97,720 | $104,870 | $112,020 | $98,112 | 1,660 |
| Greensboro, NC | $59,150 | $74,218 | $96,820 | $106,915 | $117,010 | $106,046 | 270 |
| Lexington, KY | $67,360 | $78,744 | $95,820 | $106,440 | $117,060 | $104,951 | 320 |
| St. Louis, MO | $73,720 | $82,540 | $95,770 | $106,615 | $117,460 | $106,411 | 1,860 |
| Madison, WI | $74,480 | $82,956 | $95,670 | $105,640 | $115,610 | $92,168 | 610 |
| Birmingham, AL | $76,770 | $84,162 | $95,250 | $111,150 | $127,050 | $105,365 | 540 |
| Knoxville, TN | $58,870 | $73,118 | $94,490 | $105,410 | $116,330 | $104,640 | 290 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $75,820 | $83,100 | $94,020 | $102,590 | $111,160 | $96,530 | 1,220 |
| Omaha, NE | $71,100 | $80,120 | $93,650 | $100,715 | $107,780 | $102,015 | 820 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $67,360 | $77,856 | $93,600 | $101,545 | $109,490 | $88,136 | 2,590 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $61,140 | $73,028 | $90,860 | $103,745 | $116,630 | $98,440 | 1,170 |
| Detroit, MI | $66,580 | $75,788 | $89,600 | $98,370 | $107,140 | $94,217 | 2,030 |
| Albany, NY | $61,880 | $71,524 | $85,990 | $96,960 | $107,930 | $85,392 | 550 |
| Raleigh, NC | $61,770 | $70,694 | $84,080 | $102,645 | $121,210 | $84,248 | 680 |
| Rochester, NY | $57,940 | $67,464 | $81,750 | $95,780 | $109,810 | $87,998 | 740 |
| Buffalo, NY | $60,560 | $68,960 | $81,560 | $94,090 | $106,620 | $88,173 | 970 |
| Des Moines, IA | $64,610 | $70,274 | $78,770 | $93,770 | $108,770 | $84,427 | 340 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Occupational Therapist is $102,783 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $104,248. Salaries range from $78,770 to $136,870 depending on city and cost of living.
Occupational Therapist salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $102,783, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 99,840 Occupational Therapist positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Occupational Therapist positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.