Occupational therapy is a tasking, yet rewarding career choice. In their day-to-day work, OTs treat patients who are injured, ill, or disabled — helping them to develop, recover, or improve the skills needed for everyday activities. Those in the field enjoy helping others and often earn a lucrative salary along the way. As of 2019, occupational therapists (OTs) in the U.S. earned an average salary of $84,950 per year.

This means that the average OT working 40 hours per week can expect to earn:

• $7,079 per month;
• $1,634 per week;
• $327 per day;
• $40.84 per hour.

However, different states have varying levels of demand for OTs, and accordingly offer different average salaries. Overall, the BLS estimates an 18% growth in jobs for OTs from 2018 and 2028. With that estimate, occupational therapy is expected to grow much faster than other jobs. Students pursuing a degree in occupational therapy can look forward to a bright future with that level of job growth and salary earnings.

Occupational Therapist Salaries by State

Review the information below to see the average wage in your state:

Highest Paying States For Occupational Therapists

As of May 2019, the highest paying states for OTs were as follows:

For each state, and city, it is also important to calculate the cost of living in relation to annual mean wages. For instance, the cost of living in San Francisco, CA is going to be higher than in Phoenix, AZ. In other words, an annual mean wage of ~ $90,000 is going to go a lot further in Phoenix than it will in San Francisco.

Students who earn an OT degree in Nevada or California may wish to stay there after graduating, as they are the highest-earning states for the profession.

Industries With the Highest Level of Employment For OTs

As of May 2019, industries with the highest level of employment for OTs were as follows:

Top-Paying Industries For Occupational Therapists

As of May 2019, top-paying industries for OTs were as follows:

Percentile Wage Estimates For Occupational Therapists

As of May 2019, percentile wage estimates for OTs were as follows, according to the BLS:

Highest Paying Metropolitan Areas For Occupational Therapists

As of May 2019, metropolitan areas with the highest employment levels for OTs were as follows:

Occupational Therapy Titles and Salaries

While all certified OTs must be proficient in the same basic skills, there are opportunities to further specialize and attain a distinct title. There are many titles a certified OT can go by. Below are a few of those titles, as well as their respective hourly and annual mean wages:

Each of these professions entails similar requirements to the traditional OT position. OTs and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs), for instance, differ primarily in the amount of skills they possess and responsibilities they’re given. OTAs tend to have a lower average salary than OTs, as they generally handle fewer responsibilities.

Medical and health services managers, on the other hand, tend to hold more responsibilities outside the realm of occupational therapy. For instance, managers will hold more responsibilities managing employees and budgeting.

Occupational Therapy Contracting vs Employment

One of the many benefits of becoming an OT is that you can practice in numerous work settings, but some may prefer to work independently. Certified OTs can get contracts from consulting services, nursing care facilities, home health care agencies, schools or adult day care programs, among other facilities. Contracting OTs work independently and can set their own schedule, hours, and days off. Employed OTs, on the other hand, have fixed work schedules and hours. Those interested in becoming a contracting OT may also want to learn about becoming a traveling OT, which entails many of the same advantages.

Also Read

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• DNP Salary
• Nursing Assistant Salary
• Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary
• Physical Therapy Assistant Salary