upper level job

Certified Occupational Therapist Salary in the United States

How much does a Certified Occupational Therapist make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Certified Occupational Therapist in the United States is $107,800 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

However, a Certified Occupational Therapist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $124,994
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $99,300 to $116,800
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $91,561
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered Talent
View as table View as graph 25% $99,300 10% $91,561 90% $124,994 75% $116,800 $107,800 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Certified Occupational Therapist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $116,800 $9,733 $2,246 $56
Average $107,800 $8,983 $2,073 $52
25th Percentile $99,300 $8,275 $1,910 $48
Check out Certified Occupational Therapist Job Openings in the United States
Occupational Therapist

Cottonwood Healthcare - HAMILTON, MT

Occupational Therapist

BIG STONE THERAPIES INC - MILBANK, SD

Occupational Therapist

BIG STONE THERAPIES INC - GRANITE FALLS, MN

Occupational Therapist

BIG STONE THERAPIES INC - AITKIN, MN

Search More Certified Occupational Therapist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Certified Occupational Therapist Salaries

A Certified Occupational Therapist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Certified Occupational Therapist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Certified Occupational Therapist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $105,009
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $105,263
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $108,472
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $112,233
  • Expert (over 8 years): $112,501
Levels Salary
Entry Level Certified Occupational Therapist$105,009
Intermediate Level Certified Occupational Therapist$105,263
Senior Level Certified Occupational Therapist$108,472
Specialist Level Certified Occupational Therapist$112,233
Expert Level Certified Occupational Therapist$112,501
$105,009 0 yr
$105,263 < 2 yrs
$108,472 2-4 yrs
$112,233 5-8 yrs
$112,501 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Certified Occupational Therapists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $135,900
  • San Francisco: $134,600
  • Oakland: $131,600

What Skills Can Increase a Certified Occupational Therapist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 9.81% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Medical Records Audit (Mentioned in 2.93% Job Postings): a medical records audit is a chart review which is used to identify what is being done correctly and what is in need of improvement.
  • Clinical Supervision (Mentioned in 2.33% Job Postings): Supervision is used in counselling, psychotherapy, and other mental health disciplines as well as many other professions engaged in working with people. Supervision may be applied as well to practitioners in somatic disciplines for their preparatory work for patients as well as collateral with patients. Supervision is a replacement instead of formal retrospective inspection, delivering evidence about the skills of the supervised practitioners. It consists of the practitioner meeting regularly with another professional, not necessarily more senior, but normally with training in the skills of supervision, to discuss casework and other professional issues in a structured way. This is often known as clinical or counselling supervision (consultation differs in being optional advice from someone without a supervisor's formal authority). The purpose is to assist the practitioner to learn from his or her experience and progress in expertise, as well as to ensure good service to the client or patient. Learning shall be applied to planning work as well as to diagnostic work and therapeutic work.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 9.81%
Medical Records Audit 2.93%
Clinical Supervision 2.33%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Certified Occupational Therapist's salary.
  • Medical Records Audit: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Organizational Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Medical Records Audit
$115,346
7%
Organizational Skills
$112,112
4%
Commitment
$109,956
2%
Dedication
$109,956
2%
Clinical Leadership
$109,956
2%
Written Communication
$109,956
2%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Certified Occupational Therapist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Certified Occupational Therapists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Certified Occupational Therapist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $96,012 and $101,412).

Certified Occupational Therapist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Certified Occupational Therapist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.1%
High School 0.6%
Associates 4.2%
Bachelors 25.5%
Masters 67.1%
Doctorate 2.5%
view as graph

Certified Occupational Therapist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Certified Occupational Therapist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Certified Occupational Therapist Salary Growth & Career Path

For a Certified Occupational Therapist, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Occupational Therapy Department Leader role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $127,320 - a projected growth of 18% over your current level.

Salary Trends for Certified Occupational Therapist

Salaries for a Certified Occupational Therapist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $112,260 in 2023 to around $111,827 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Certified Occupational Therapist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Certified Occupational Therapist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$112,260
2024
$113,619
2025
$111,827
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $112,260
2024 $113,619
2025 $111,827
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Certified Occupational Therapist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Certified Occupational Therapist

Here are companies hiring for Certified Occupational Therapist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Certified Occupational Therapist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Certified Occupational Therapist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Certified Occupational Therapist

1. What kind of OT gets paid the most?

The highest-paid Certified Occupational Therapists typically work in home healthcare services, earning around $104,790 annually. Other lucrative settings include skilled nursing facilities at approximately $101,520 and hospitals at about $99,570. Overall, salaries range from a minimum of $91,500 to a maximum of $112,000, with a median salary of $101,000.

2. Do occupational therapists need a doctorate?

Successful completion of a master's degree in occupational therapy or a professional doctorate in occupational therapy (e.g., OTD) is required to enter practice as an occupational therapist in the United States. The salary for certified occupational therapists ranges from a minimum of $91,500 to a maximum of $112,000, with a mid-salary of $101,000.

3. How to make 6 figures as an occupational therapist?

To make six figures as an occupational therapist, consider travel therapy, which typically offers salaries above $101,000. Standard therapy jobs with per diem options can also boost earnings. Home health contracting, starting your own business, or exploring ergonomics and health tech roles can further increase your income. The salary range for certified occupational therapists is between $91,500 and $112,000.

4. Which country pays occupational therapists the most?

The USA offers the highest salaries for occupational therapists, with a range from $91,500 to $112,000, and a mid-salary of $101,000. Other countries like Germany, Canada, the UK, France, and Australia also provide competitive salaries, but none match the earning potential found in the USA.

5. What job makes $200000 a year?

Most jobs that pay over $200k a year include specialized roles like doctors and lawyers, which require extensive education and training. In contrast, Certified Occupational Therapists earn between $91,500 and $112,000 annually, reflecting the demand and qualifications needed in the healthcare field.

6. What type of OT makes the most money?

The highest paying occupational therapist (OT) jobs are found in research and development, home health, and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). According to salary data, OTs can expect a minimum salary of $91,500, a mid-range salary of $101,000, and a maximum salary of $112,000, reflecting the lucrative opportunities in these fields.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst