Your salary as an occupational therapist depends on factors such as where you live, how much experience you have, and what type of facility you work in.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the job outlook for occupational therapists is much better than for many other professions—occupational therapy is one of the fastest-growing industries in the United States, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an approximate increase in average salary of around 41 percent between now and 2024.
The BLS report from May 2021 states that most occupational therapists worked full-time and made an average of $85,570. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $60,680, and the top 10 percent more than $123,840.
Many occupational therapists make more than the average mean wage by working in patients’ homes, nursing homes, and hospitals.
- The highest average salaries can be found in California, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas, and New Mexico, where annual mean wages are over $95,060.
- The states that offer the lowest average salaries are Maine, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Vermont. Each of these states has an annual mean wage of $76,770 or less.
- Puerto Rico offers the lowest annual mean wage, at $43,110.
Occupational Therapy Salary by State
The following chart was based on data provided by the BLS.
Occupational Therapist (SOC code 291122)
Period: May 2021
| State | Employment | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1270 | $40.73 | $84,710 |
| Alaska | 290 | $44.92 | $93,440 |
| Arizona | 2260 | $43.52 | $90,520 |
| Arkansas | 1130 | $39.12 | $81,360 |
| California | 11460 | $50.85 | $105,760 |
| Colorado | 3710 | $44.83 | $93,250 |
| Connecticut | 2280 | $45.21 | $94,040 |
| Delaware | 400 | $42.64 | $88,680 |
| DC | 450 | $43.34 | $90,150 |
| Florida | 6770 | $41.65 | $86,640 |
| Georgia | 3290 | $41.95 | $87,250 |
| Hawaii | 460 | $44.40 | $92,350 |
| Idaho | 600 | $38.83 | $80,760 |
| Illinois | 6320 | $40.20 | $83,620 |
| Indiana | 2640 | $41.15 | $85,580 |
| Iowa | 990 | $39.47 | $82,110 |
| Kansas | 1190 | $41.55 | $86,430 |
| Kentucky | 1780 | $39.10 | $81,330 |
| Louisiana | 1570 | $44.34 | $92,230 |
| Maine | 990 | $35.76 | $74,380 |
| Maryland | 3170 | $41.57 | $86,460 |
| Massachusetts | 4820 | $42.33 | $88,040 |
| Michigan | 4610 | $37.44 | $77,880 |
| Minnesota | 3080 | $38.49 | $80,060 |
| Mississippi | 1190 | $42.03 | $87,420 |
| Missouri | 2270 | $37.97 | $78,990 |
| Montana | 360 | $39.57 | $82,300 |
| Nebraska | 1200 | $40.25 | $83,710 |
| Nevada | 850 | $52.41 | $109,010 |
| New Hampshire | 920 | $39.82 | $82,820 |
| New Jersey | 3960 | $48.14 | $100,140 |
| New Mexico | 740 | $47.70 | $95,060 |
| New York | 8320 | $44.80 | $93,190 |
| North Carolina | 3450 | $40.18 | $83,580 |
| North Dakota | 420 | $34.30 | $71,340 |
| Ohio | 5870 | $40.83 | $84,930 |
| Oklahoma | 860 | $42.41 | $88,200 |
| Oregon | 1130 | $44.10 | $91,730 |
| Pennsylvania | 6710 | $42.57 | $88,540 |
| Puerto Rico | 280 | $20.73 | $43,110 |
| Rhode Island | 420 | $44.48 | $92,510 |
| South Carolina | 1480 | $42.40 | $88,180 |
| South Dakota | 370 | $36.70 | $76,330 |
| Tennessee | 2260 | $41.86 | $87,060 |
| Texas | 8500 | $46.20 | $96,100 |
| Utah | 860 | $43.02 | $89,480 |
| Vermont | 230 | $37.37 | $77,740 |
| Virginia | 3070 | $45.65 | $94,950 |
| Washington | 2800 | $44.54 | $92,650 |
| West Virginia | 420 | $39.36 | $81,860 |
| Wisconsin | 3380 | $36.91 | $76,770 |
| Wyoming | 290 | $39.51 | $82,170 |
