Licensed Occupational Therapist Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Licensed Occupational Therapist in the United States is $78,882 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $97,046
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $69,423 to $88,390
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $60,811
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View as table View as graph 25% $69,423 10% $60,811 90% $97,046 75% $88,390 $78,882 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Licensed Occupational Therapist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $88,390 $7,366 $1,700 $42
Average $78,882 $6,573 $1,517 $38
25th Percentile $69,423 $5,785 $1,335 $33
Check out Licensed Occupational Therapist Job Openings in the United States
Occupational Therapist OTR

Progressive Occupational Therapist services - Columbus, OH

Occupational Therapist

BoldAge PACE - Columbus, OH

Occupational Therapist

Optum - Columbus, OH

Occupational Therapist

Total Education Solutions - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Licensed Occupational Therapist Salaries

A Licensed 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Licensed Occupational Therapist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Licensed 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): $79,276
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $80,852
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $84,236
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $84,698
  • Expert (over 8 years): $85,467
Levels Salary
Entry Level Licensed Occupational Therapist$79,276
Intermediate Level Licensed Occupational Therapist$80,852
Senior Level Licensed Occupational Therapist$84,236
Specialist Level Licensed Occupational Therapist$84,698
Expert Level Licensed Occupational Therapist$85,467
$79,276 0 yr
$80,852 < 2 yrs
$84,236 2-4 yrs
$84,698 5-8 yrs
$85,467 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Licensed 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: $99,493
  • San Francisco: $98,404
  • Oakland: $96,330

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

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.3% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.09% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Schematic (Mentioned in 1.33% Job Postings): A schematic, or schematic diagram, is a representation of the elements of a system using abstract, graphic symbols rather than realistic pictures.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.3%
Microsoft Office 2.09%
Schematic 1.33%
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 Licensed Occupational Therapist's salary.
  • Curriculum Design: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
  • Group Facilitation: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Curriculum Design
$100,180
27%
Group Facilitation
$85,981
9%
Project Management
$85,192
8%
Commitment
$85,192
8%
Leadership
$84,403
7%
Analysis
$83,614
6%
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Licensed Occupational Therapist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Licensed 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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Licensed Occupational Therapist

Salaries for a Licensed Occupational Therapist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $50,390 in 2023 to around $49,981 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Licensed Occupational Therapist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Licensed Occupational Therapist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$50,390
2024
$50,427
2025
$49,981
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $50,390
2024 $50,427
2025 $49,981
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Licensed Occupational Therapist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Licensed Occupational Therapist

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

Find Your Next Licensed Occupational Therapist Job

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

United States
  • OhioHealth

    Columbus, OH

    OhioHealth | Columbus, OH

    Occupational Therapist. We are more than a health system. We are a belief system. We believe wellness and sickness are both part of a lifelong partnership,... more

    1 Day Ago

  • Fusion Medical Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    Fusion Medical Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Job #1975131 Columbus, OH $1563-1884 /week* 40 hrs /week * Estimated payments include wages and expense reimbursement, are based on information available t... more

    1 Day Ago

  • Ohio State University

    Columbus, OH

    Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

    Occupational Therapist - Contingent/IRP. Occupational therapist will be responsible for providing patient care to the newborn populations for both the Well... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Heinzerling Community

    Columbus, OH

    Heinzerling Community | Columbus, OH

    Join Our Team as an Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist. Heinzerling Community is seeking compassionate, dedicated Occupational and Physical Thera... more

    1 Day Ago

  • AMN Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    AMN Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Occupational Therapist Position. Join a committed healthcare team at a premier specialized hospital in Columbus, OH, where you can make a meaningful impact... more

    1 Day Ago

  • Compassus

    Columbus, OH

    Compassus | Columbus, OH

    Occupational Therapist (OT) Company: OhioHealth at Home in partnership with Compassus Position Summary: As an Occupational Therapist, you'll blend innovati... more

    1 Day Ago

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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.)

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