Occupational Therapist Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$98,000
national median salary
$80,000 to $110,000. Last updated August 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $100,330 for Occupational Therapists (SOC 29-1122) across the United States, based on 162,450 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$71,690
25th percentile
$82,510
Median
$100,330
75th percentile
$116,670
90th percentile
$131,950
Workers surveyed
162,450
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$98,340
May 2025 release
$100,330
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Occupational Therapists (SOC 29-1122) rather than Occupational Therapistspecifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 29-1122Highest Paying
$135,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$102,000
Washington DC, DC
Lowest Paying
$74,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated August 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 29-1122. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Occupational Therapist salary in the United States at $98,000 in 2026, within a range of $80,000 to $110,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $135,000, while Washington DC offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Practice setting is the primary salary driver, with acute care hospitals and home health paying above outpatient and school-based roles.
Occupational Therapist salary by city.
Skills that increase Occupational Therapist pay.
The skills below command measurable salary premiums for Occupational Therapists based on job posting data. Learning the top skill here could add $13,720 to your annual compensation.
≈ +$13,720 per year
≈ +$12,740 per year
≈ +$11,760 per year
≈ +$10,780 per year
≈ +$10,780 per year
≈ +$9,800 per year
≈ +$9,800 per year
≈ +$8,820 per year
What you should know.
Practice setting is the primary salary driver, with acute care hospitals and home health paying above outpatient and school-based roles. Hand therapy certification commands a notable premium. States with higher Medicaid reimbursement rates and metropolitan areas with greater demand also push compensation upward.
New OTs start around $68,000 to $78,000 depending on setting. Mid-career OTs with specialty certifications reach $88,000 to $100,000. OT directors or program managers in hospital systems can earn $105,000 to $125,000 with administrative and clinical oversight responsibilities.
OTs typically receive CEU allowances, student loan assistance programs, and comprehensive health benefits. Some employers offer productivity bonuses tied to billable units, adding $3,000 to $8,000 annually for high-performing therapists.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Occupational Therapists typically earn $88,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Occupational Therapist pay.
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