Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Occupational therapists (SOC 29-1122) employed 162,450 people in May 2025. The median pay is $100,330 a year ($48.24 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $71,690 and the highest-paid 10% more than $131,950. BLS projects its employment to change by +14.8% between 2025 and 2035 (about 10,000 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Master's degree.
Highest median pay: California ($124,510), Oregon ($112,310), Nevada ($110,520). Most jobs: California (13,810), Texas (13,400), New York (11,690).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,690 | $34.47 |
| 25th percentile | $82,510 | $39.67 |
| Median | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| Mean | $101,280 | $48.69 |
| 75th percentile | $116,670 | $56.09 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $131,950 | $63.44 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 169,600 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 194,800 |
| Change in jobs | 25,200 |
| Percent change | +14.8% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 10,000 |
| Self-employed share | 2.5% |
| Typical entry education | Master's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1,500 | 0.68 | $94,050 | $76,670 | $123,870 | -6% | 14% |
| Alaska | 410 | 1.20 | $103,680 | $82,320 | $133,860 | +3% | 17% |
| Arizona | 2,680 | 0.79 | $103,660 | $78,160 | $131,950 | +3% | 19% |
| Arkansas | 2,160 | 1.59 | $106,360 | $65,160 | $144,250 | +6% | 11% |
| California | 13,810 | 0.73 | $124,510 | $85,550 | $158,560 | +24% | 20% |
| Colorado | 3,390 | 1.13 | $106,720 | $81,390 | $157,820 | +6% | 20% |
| Connecticut | 3,150 | 1.77 | $102,440 | $76,360 | $127,630 | +2% | 18% |
| Delaware | 490 | 0.96 | $102,130 | $71,280 | $138,640 | +2% | 18% |
| District of Columbia | 540 | 0.74 | $109,170 | $81,760 | $129,810 | +9% | 21% |
| Florida | 10,650 | 1.03 | $99,360 | $66,230 | $117,950 | -1% | 22% |
| Georgia | 3,650 | 0.72 | $104,010 | $75,290 | $128,610 | +4% | 17% |
| Hawaii | 390 | 0.60 | $102,870 | $78,670 | $118,240 | +3% | 23% |
| Idaho | 840 | 0.93 | $97,760 | $69,440 | $152,880 | -3% | 17% |
| Illinois | 7,710 | 1.21 | $99,700 | $73,360 | $132,180 | -1% | 16% |
| Indiana | 3,830 | 1.14 | $97,020 | $69,550 | $119,950 | -3% | 14% |
| Iowa | 1,290 | 0.79 | $89,910 | $64,610 | $109,200 | -10% | 13% |
| Kansas | 1,560 | 1.04 | $99,170 | $66,720 | $120,950 | -1% | 13% |
| Kentucky | 2,190 | 1.05 | $97,650 | $71,030 | $119,250 | -3% | 12% |
| Louisiana | 2,060 | 1.02 | $98,490 | $61,070 | $126,630 | -2% | 13% |
| Maine | 1,120 | 1.68 | $84,310 | $63,750 | $114,100 | -16% | 17% |
| Maryland | 2,390 | 0.83 | $106,980 | $76,650 | $132,300 | +7% | 19% |
| Massachusetts | 6,510 | 1.71 | $100,930 | $73,140 | $127,380 | +1% | 22% |
| Michigan | 5,120 | 1.11 | $89,910 | $66,580 | $105,720 | -10% | 16% |
| Minnesota | 3,670 | 1.19 | $93,050 | $71,770 | $108,790 | -7% | 17% |
| Mississippi | 1,340 | 1.10 | $94,930 | $73,200 | $113,950 | -5% | 13% |
| Missouri | 3,400 | 1.11 | $97,290 | $71,880 | $120,130 | -3% | 13% |
| Montana | 420 | 0.79 | $88,990 | $76,110 | $110,910 | -11% | 16% |
| Nebraska | 1,500 | 1.40 | $93,740 | $70,370 | $107,780 | -7% | 14% |
| Nevada | 1,080 | 0.67 | $110,520 | $85,720 | $139,260 | +10% | 19% |
| New Hampshire | 1,240 | 1.74 | $83,900 | $64,150 | $115,050 | -16% | 22% |
| New Jersey | 6,290 | 1.41 | $103,410 | $78,690 | $159,230 | +3% | 21% |
| New Mexico | 1,030 | 1.14 | $99,170 | $69,230 | $133,050 | -1% | 14% |
| New York | 11,690 | 1.15 | $96,390 | $64,770 | $133,700 | -4% | 20% |
| North Carolina | 4,490 | 0.87 | $92,940 | $62,230 | $118,300 | -7% | 17% |
| North Dakota | 570 | 1.26 | $83,200 | $66,890 | $106,300 | -17% | 14% |
| Ohio | 6,760 | 1.17 | $99,390 | $70,080 | $123,800 | -1% | 13% |
| Oklahoma | 1,180 | 0.66 | $104,300 | $68,530 | $134,420 | +4% | 12% |
| Oregon | 1,170 | 0.57 | $112,310 | $78,500 | $131,340 | +12% | 17% |
| Pennsylvania | 6,560 | 1.04 | $98,440 | $69,120 | $128,790 | -2% | 15% |
| Rhode Island | 770 | 1.47 | $100,040 | $75,760 | $126,630 | -0% | 17% |
| South Carolina | 1,840 | 0.76 | $101,130 | $75,370 | $123,110 | +1% | 15% |
| South Dakota | 490 | 1.02 | $85,050 | $65,820 | $106,520 | -15% | 14% |
| Tennessee | 2,490 | 0.73 | $97,700 | $68,520 | $119,070 | -3% | 16% |
| Texas | 13,400 | 0.91 | $106,140 | $76,350 | $135,200 | +6% | 17% |
| Utah | 1,030 | 0.57 | $97,150 | $75,570 | $126,970 | -3% | 20% |
| Vermont | 320 | 1.02 | $93,340 | $69,120 | $118,110 | -7% | 17% |
| Virginia | 4,150 | 0.97 | $100,710 | $70,200 | $134,570 | +0% | 20% |
| Washington | 3,340 | 0.90 | $107,670 | $83,110 | $135,290 | +7% | 20% |
| West Virginia | 700 | 0.96 | $96,190 | $60,870 | $129,460 | -4% | 11% |
| Wisconsin | 3,710 | 1.21 | $92,390 | $73,610 | $110,950 | -8% | 15% |
| Wyoming | 350 | 1.20 | $86,170 | $57,740 | $127,790 | -14% | 14% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 840 | $136,870 | $97,450 | $169,990 | 0.71 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,560 | $136,770 | $96,250 | $171,460 | 0.63 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 810 | $122,780 | $94,910 | $154,940 | 0.72 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,600 | $122,050 | $80,040 | $131,000 | 1.18 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,950 | $122,040 | $82,840 | $154,730 | 0.76 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 1,620 | $121,680 | $92,790 | $152,150 | 1.01 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 300 | $120,570 | $90,460 | $152,310 | 0.89 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,110 | $119,530 | $86,490 | $150,490 | 0.62 |
| Fresno, CA | 320 | $116,690 | $93,720 | $150,750 | 0.64 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 730 | $112,100 | $85,490 | $131,710 | 0.58 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 860 | $110,520 | $86,120 | $141,760 | 0.72 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,020 | $109,860 | $83,650 | $138,050 | 0.93 |
| Tulsa, OK | 370 | $108,350 | $70,790 | $135,970 | 0.78 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 450 | $107,830 | $62,090 | $144,250 | 1.57 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1,780 | $107,650 | $75,690 | $131,620 | 1.51 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,870 | $107,500 | $79,170 | $157,820 | 1.11 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 2,120 | $106,160 | $76,600 | $131,010 | 0.70 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 3,450 | $106,110 | $76,960 | $145,780 | 0.82 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 520 | $105,780 | $81,370 | $164,310 | 1.58 |
| Richmond, VA | 740 | $105,550 | $76,930 | $122,460 | 1.07 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 1,200 | $105,490 | $74,050 | $128,960 | 0.84 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 750 | $105,240 | $77,970 | $135,450 | 1.79 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,070 | $105,060 | $78,160 | $133,680 | 0.83 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | 760 | $104,680 | $65,160 | $137,620 | 2.04 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 730 | $104,030 | $66,230 | $113,320 | 2.06 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 530 | $103,840 | $74,480 | $131,180 | 1.35 |
| Anchorage, AK | 300 | $103,680 | $82,320 | $134,180 | 1.62 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 2,700 | $103,580 | $78,790 | $140,720 | 0.79 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3,410 | $103,140 | $77,130 | $131,670 | 1.13 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 530 | $103,080 | $66,560 | $133,490 | 0.75 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,200 | $103,060 | $77,250 | $124,140 | 1.12 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 2,640 | $102,960 | $79,650 | $138,150 | 0.80 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 320 | $102,870 | $77,960 | $118,240 | 0.70 |
| New Haven, CT | 410 | $102,680 | $75,570 | $130,600 | 1.38 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 390 | $102,520 | $64,890 | $124,870 | 0.83 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 400 | $102,340 | $75,710 | $116,510 | 0.87 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 4,790 | $101,940 | $74,670 | $129,060 | 1.70 |
| El Paso, TX | 320 | $101,530 | $64,280 | $135,070 | 0.89 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 2,550 | $101,480 | $66,670 | $120,910 | 0.87 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 11,640 | $101,460 | $72,380 | $144,090 | 1.17 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 340 | $100,980 | $71,120 | $157,200 | 1.09 |
| Tucson, AZ | 310 | $100,920 | $80,550 | $125,060 | 0.77 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1,360 | $100,870 | $79,250 | $128,620 | 1.19 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 330 | $100,850 | $67,350 | $124,420 | 1.02 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 710 | $100,630 | $70,590 | $121,840 | 0.62 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,140 | $100,570 | $75,560 | $121,060 | 1.82 |
| Toledo, OH | 380 | $100,340 | $73,840 | $118,670 | 1.24 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 1,660 | $100,080 | $78,280 | $124,680 | 1.44 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 710 | $100,040 | $75,640 | $126,420 | 0.99 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 510 | $99,980 | $78,490 | $128,860 | 0.59 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 420 | $99,960 | $75,350 | $123,460 | 0.66 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 370 | $99,940 | $64,260 | $112,140 | 2.05 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 5,960 | $99,860 | $73,900 | $136,160 | 1.26 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 1,360 | $99,840 | $70,890 | $122,960 | 1.19 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,160 | $99,520 | $64,410 | $123,060 | 0.79 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | 380 | $99,460 | $75,200 | $138,350 | 2.25 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 830 | $99,400 | $48,000 | $131,370 | 1.04 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 890 | $99,340 | $74,730 | $115,020 | 1.12 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | 320 | $99,280 | $81,480 | $124,800 | 1.21 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 550 | $99,170 | $74,150 | $133,050 | 1.30 |
The median is $100,330 a year ($48.24 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $71,690 and the highest-paid tenth over $131,950 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
162,450 in May 2025, and BLS projects +14.8% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Master's degree (BLS).
California, with a median of $124,510 (among states with published figures).