Occupational Therapists provide rehabilitation services that help patients with disabilities achieve greater independence. Occupational Therapists are trained professionals who work in hospitals, clinics and private practices. They work with patients of all ages to develop, recover or restore the abilities that help them function on a daily basis. Compensation for Occupational Therapists can vary widely by geographic location.[1] While compensation is influenced by average salary figures from different locations, it also depends on the experience level of the therapist and his or her expected workload. Occupational Therapists can earn over $100,000 a year and up to $200,000 per year for those in service areas with high demand and a shortage of therapists.
National Average Salary For Occupational Therapist
Becoming an occupational therapist is an increasingly popular career route for Americans. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of occupational therapists is expected to rise by 18% from 2018 to 2028, a rate which is much faster than the average for all other occupations. To become an occupational therapist, you typically have to earn a master’s degree in the field. As a career, being an occupational therapist involves treating injured, sick or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of every activities in order to help patients recover, develop and/or maintain the basic skills necessary to work and live life on a daily basis.
Using occupational data from the BLS, we’ve analyzed and compiled a round-up of the average occupational therapist salary by state in the U.S. Read on for a full breakdown of where occupational therapists make the most money and where they’re making the least.
10 States Where Occupational Therapists Earn the Most Money
The national average annual wage of an occupational therapist is $86,210, according to the latest data from the BLS. This over $30,000 more than current average annual salary for all occupations, $53,490. As with most occupations, the average occupational therapist salary can vary significantly depending on the state in which you’re located. Fortunately, even the lowest-paying states for occupational therapists have average salaries that are almost $20,000 more than the national average for all jobs. In the best-paying state for occupational therapists, the average salary is over $$50,000 more than the U.S. average annual wage for all occupations in the U.S.
Below is a list of the top-10 highest-paying states for occupational therapists:
- Nevada average occupational therapist salary: $105,450
- California average occupational therapist salary: $98,450
- New Jersey average occupational therapist salary: $96,820
- Arizona average occupational therapist salary: $95,180
- Connecticut average occupational therapist salary: $92,770
- Oregon average occupational therapist salary: $92,730
- Virginia average occupational therapist salary: $91,970
- Colorado average occupational therapist salary: $90,990
- Alaska average occupational therapist salary: $90,340
- New York average occupational therapist salary: $89,920
The top-10 best states for occupational therapist salaries comprised mainly of states on the East Coast and in the western U.S. The state with the highest average occupational therapist salary is Nevada, which also benefits from having no state income tax. One word of caution about Nevada, however, is that the average occupational therapist salary has declined by 2.1% over the last five years. Still, it has maintained average annual wages that are in excess of $100,000 every year since 2014 with the exception of 2015.
10 States Where Occupational Therapists Earn the Least Money
The bottom-10 states where occupational therapists make the least money are largely located in much of the nation’s northern states, with the notable exception of South Carolina. Many are in the upper Midwest while others are in the Northeast. Here’s a look at the bottom-10 states for occupational therapist salaries:
- North Dakota average occupational therapist salary: $70,350
- South Dakota average occupational therapist salary: $72,370
- Maine average occupational therapist salary: $74,400
- South Carolina average occupational therapist salary: $75,700
- Minnesota average occupational therapist salary: $76,220
- Wisconsin average occupational therapist salary: $76,270
- Vermont average occupational therapist salary: $76,580
- Montana average occupational therapist salary: $76,670
- Nebraska average occupational therapist salary: $77,450
- Michigan average occupational therapist salary: $78,010
Though the average occupational therapist salaries in these states are below average, there are still good signs for wages in these states. Many of these states have experienced solid wage growth for occupational therapists. In the worst-paying state, North Dakota, the average occupational therapist salary increased by 11.5% over the last five years, from $63,070 in 2014 to $70,350 in 2019. In South Dakota and Maine, the average occupational therapist salary also rose by more than 10% over the last five years, 12.6% and 13.6%, respectively.
