Occupational Therapist Salary in the United States
Occupational therapists help people who have disabilities or injuries to regain the skills they need to be able to do things on their own. They often work with patients of all ages, from infants to senior citizens, and may specialize in a specific area such as pediatrics or geriatrics. The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework outlines four practice domains: therapeutic activities; health promotion; psychosocial well-being; and health systems and policy.
Occupational therapists must be licensed by the American Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (ABCOT), which is recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The national average salary for occupational therapists was about $94,000 per year in 2015, but this varies greatly depending on where you live and what kind of facility you work at.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for an occupational therapist in the US is $70,010 per year. This figure includes all types of occupational therapists: those who work in hospitals, clinics, private practice settings and more.
However, there are many factors that can impact your salary including where you live, your experience level and what type of employer you work for. It’s also important to note that these figures are averages and may not reflect the exact pay that you’ll receive based on your specific circumstances.
Occupational Therapist Salary In Us
How much money does an Occupational Therapist make in United States?
Average Yearly Salary
121,000 USD
( 10,100 USD monthly)
LOW
57,000
USD AVERAGE
121,000
USD HIGH
191,000
USD
A person working as an Occupational Therapist in United States typically earns around 121,000 USD per year. Salaries range from 57,000 USD (lowest) to 191,000 USD (highest).
This is the average yearly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Occupational Therapist salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Occupational Therapist Salary Distribution in United States
Median and salary distribution yearly United States Occupational Therapist
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The median, the maximum, the minimum, and the range
Salary Range
Occupational Therapist salaries in United States range from 57,000 USD per year (minimum salary) to 191,000 USD per year (maximum salary).
Median Salary
The median salary is 128,000 USD per year, which means that half (50%) of people working as Occupational Therapist(s) are earning less than 128,000 USD while the other half are earning more than 128,000 USD. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
Percentiles
Closely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of Occupational Therapist(s) are earning less than 83,400 USD while 75% of them are earning more than 83,400 USD. Also from the diagram, 75% of Occupational Therapist(s) are earning less than 170,000 USD while 25% are earning more than 170,000 USD.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both of the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people are earning more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
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Occupational Therapist Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does experience and age affect your pay?
Salary comparison by years of experience yearly United States Occupational Therapist
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The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher your wage. We broke down Occupational Therapist salaries by experience level and this is what we found.
An Occupational Therapist with less than two years of experience makes approximately 65,700 USD per year.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 90,600 USD per year, 38% more than someone with less than two year’s experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 129,000 USD per year, 42% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
“ On average, a person’s salary doubles their starting salary by the time they cross the 10 years* experience mark. ”
- Based on the average change in salary over time. Salary variations differ from person to person.
Additionally, Occupational Therapist(s) whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 157,000 USD per year, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 166,000 USD per year, 6% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 181,000 USD per year, 9% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Occupational Therapist average salary change by experience in United States
0 – 2 Years
65,700 USD
2 – 5 Years +38%
90,600 USD
5 – 10 Years +42%
129,000 USD
10 – 15 Years +22%
157,000 USD
15 – 20 Years +6%
166,000 USD
20+ Years +9%
181,000 USD
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Salary Comparison By Experience Level
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Occupational Therapist Salary Comparison By Education
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary difference between different Occupational Therapist(s) who have the same experience but different education levels.
Salary comparison by education level yearly United States Occupational Therapist
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We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down Occupational Therapist salaries by education level in order to make a comparison.
When the education level is Bachelor’s Degree, the average salary of an Occupational Therapist is 90,600 USD per year.
While someone with a Master’s Degree gets a salary of 166,000 USD per year, 83% more than someone having a Bachelor’s Degree degree.
Occupational Therapist average salary difference by education level in United States
Bachelor’s Degree
90,600 USD
Master’s Degree +83%
166,000 USD
Percentage increase and decrease are relative to the previous value
Is a Master’s degree or an MBA worth it? Should you pursue higher education?
A Master’s degree program or any post-graduate program in United States costs anywhere from 39,500 US Dollar(s) to 118,000 US Dollar(s) and lasts approximately two years. That is quite an investment.
You can’t really expect any salary increases during the study period, assuming you already have a job. In most cases, a salary review is conducted once education is completed and the degree has been attained.
Many people pursue higher education as a tactic to switch into a higher paying job. The numbers seem to support the thoery. The average increase in compensation while changing jobs is approximately 10% more than the customary salary increment.
If you can afford the costs of higher education, the return on investment is definitely worth it. You should be able to recover the costs in roughly a year or so.
