Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025
Occupational Therapist Salary in Washington, DC
Healthcare · SOC 29-1122 · COL Index 152.8
Occupational Therapists in Washington, DC earn a median salary of $102,960 as of 2025, with a 10th-to-90th percentile range of $79,650 to $138,150. The mean is $109,170 across approximately 2,640 workers. Adjusted for Washington, DC's cost-of-living index of 152.8, the median equates to $67,382 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Occupational Therapist pay in Washington, DC runs close to the national median: $102,960 locally versus $102,783 nationally. Cities with national-market wages typically have moderate cost-of-living and balanced labor supply-and-demand.
Cost-of-living in Washington, DC runs at index 152.8 — well above the national 100 baseline. Adjusted for cost-of-living, the $102,960 median translates to roughly $67,382 in national-baseline dollars, a useful framing for relocation decisions. Wage distribution at the 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles: $88,974, $102,960, $120,555, $138,150. 2,640 Occupational Therapist workers are documented in Washington, DC per the BLS OEWS survey. The percentile spread is the most useful framing — entry-level pay clusters near p25, mid-career near p50, senior-level near p75-p90.
Salary Distribution
Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Salary | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (Entry Level) | $79,650 | $52,127 |
| 25th Percentile | $88,974 | $58,229 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $102,960 | $67,382 |
| 75th Percentile | $120,555 | $78,897 |
| 90th Percentile (Top Earners) | $138,150 | $90,412 |
What These Numbers Tell You
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Occupational Therapists in Washington, DC is relatively tight (1.7×), suggesting pay is largely standardized — most workers earn within a fairly narrow band of the median $102,960. Roles with this distribution tend to have less negotiation leverage at the top end, but also less risk of underpayment at the bottom.
Washington, DC's cost-of-living index of 152.8 means $102,960 here has the same purchasing power as $67,382 in an average-cost U.S. metro. Housing dominates the gap; in markets at this level, mortgage or rent typically consumes 35–45% of pre-tax pay even at the median, which is why nominal salary numbers materially overstate take-home value.
Washington, DC ranks #29 of 70 BLS-tracked metros for Occupational Therapist pay — in the upper half (41th percentile of metros) but not the top tier.
How to Use This in Negotiation
The classic negotiation move is to anchor your ask on the 75th percentile of the BLS band — $120,555 for Occupational Therapists in Washington, DC — when you have meaningful experience, then bring evidence (years on the job, scope of past work, relevant certifications, comparable offers) to justify why you sit at that point in the distribution. Anchoring on the median when you have 5+ years of experience leaves money on the table; anchoring on the 90th percentile ($138,150) without strong evidence undercuts credibility.
For new entrants, the 25th-to-50th percentile band ($88,974–$102,960) is the realistic target. For mid-career workers, the median-to-75th band ($102,960–$120,555) is the right anchor. Senior specialists and managers should be benchmarking against the 75th-to-90th band ($120,555–$138,150).
For specific scripts and a full negotiation framework, see the data-driven salary negotiation guide. To benchmark your current pay, the salary percentile calculator places any number into the BLS distribution for this role and metro.
How This Salary Is Calculated
Wage figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — a federal survey of about 1.2 million U.S. establishments, published once per year by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. The Washington, DC percentile bands above (10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th) and the mean are pulled directly from the BLS data file for SOC code 29-1122 in this MSA. The COL-adjusted figure rebases salary to a U.S. national average COL of 100, using a composite index derived from public housing, food, and transportation data. Read the full methodology for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Occupational Therapist salary in Washington, DC?
Occupational Therapists in Washington, DC earn a median salary of $102,960 as of 2025, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data. The mean (employment-weighted average) is $109,170 across roughly 2,640 workers in this metro.
What is the salary range for Occupational Therapists in Washington, DC?
Pay ranges from $79,650 at the 10th percentile to $138,150 at the 90th percentile — a $58,500 spread. The 25th-to-75th percentile band ($88,974 to $120,555) is the typical anchor for salary negotiation.
Is $102,960 a good Occupational Therapist salary in Washington, DC?
$102,960 is the BLS median — half of Occupational Therapists in Washington, DC earn more, half earn less. Whether it is "good" depends on your experience: new entrants typically land near the 25th percentile ($88,974), mid-career workers near the median, and senior specialists near or above the 75th percentile ($120,555). Cost-of-living-adjusted to a national average baseline, the median equates to $67,382.
How does Occupational Therapist pay in Washington, DC compare to other metros?
Washington, DC ranks #29 of 70 BLS-tracked metros for Occupational Therapist median pay. It sits in the upper half but not the top tier.
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 — public domain federal data covering 1.2 million U.S. employers. The same data feeds the U.S. Department of Labor's prevailing wage system used for H-1B and federal contracting wage determinations.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Washington, DC MSA, SOC 29-1122, 2025 release. Public domain. See bls.gov/oes. Cite as: "SalaryTruth, BLS OEWS 2025."
Last refreshed 2026-05-21 · 2,640 Occupational Therapists tracked in Washington, DC.