Occupational Therapy Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does an Occupational Therapy Specialist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Occupational Therapy Specialist in the United States is $108,647 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $52.

However, an Occupational Therapy Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $125,298
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $99,423 to $117,363
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $91,024
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View as table View as graph 25% $99,423 10% $91,024 90% $125,298 75% $117,363 $108,647 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Occupational Therapy Specialist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $117,363 $9,780 $2,257 $56
Average $108,647 $9,054 $2,089 $52
25th Percentile $99,423 $8,285 $1,912 $48
Check out Occupational Therapy Specialist Job Openings in the United States
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice - Greater Toledo - Columbus, OH

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Ohio Living Home Health - Columbus, OH

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Alternate Solutions Health Network - Columbus, OH

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

CommuniCare Corporate - Columbus, OH

Search More Occupational Therapy Specialist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Occupational Therapy Specialist Salaries

An Occupational Therapy Specialist'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 Occupational Therapy Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Occupational Therapy Specialist'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): $107,750
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $108,006
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $111,262
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $115,144
  • Expert (over 8 years): $115,421
Levels Salary
Entry Level Occupational Therapy Specialist$107,750
Intermediate Level Occupational Therapy Specialist$108,006
Senior Level Occupational Therapy Specialist$111,262
Specialist Level Occupational Therapy Specialist$115,144
Expert Level Occupational Therapy Specialist$115,421
$107,750 0 yr
$108,006 < 2 yrs
$111,262 2-4 yrs
$115,144 5-8 yrs
$115,421 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Occupational Therapy Specialists

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: $137,036
  • San Francisco: $135,536
  • Oakland: $132,680

What Skills Can Increase an Occupational Therapy Specialist'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 an Occupational Therapy Specialist'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
$116,252
7%
Organizational Skills
$112,993
4%
Commitment
$110,820
2%
Dedication
$110,820
2%
Clinical Leadership
$110,820
2%
Written Communication
$110,820
2%
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Occupational Therapy Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Occupational Therapy Specialist roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 20% above the average. Conversely, Occupational Therapy Specialist positions in Business Services typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Occupational Therapy Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Occupational Therapy Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$130,376$63.020%

How Education impacts an Occupational Therapy Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Occupational Therapy Specialists 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 an Occupational Therapy Specialist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $96,426 and $101,848).

Occupational Therapy Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Occupational Therapy Specialist
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%
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Occupational Therapy Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Occupational Therapy Specialist'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 Occupational Therapy Specialist

Salaries for an Occupational Therapy Specialist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $115,123 in 2023 to around $114,679 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Occupational Therapy Specialist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Occupational Therapy Specialist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$115,123
2024
$116,516
2025
$114,679
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $115,123
2024 $116,516
2025 $114,679
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Occupational Therapy Specialist

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

Here are companies hiring for Occupational Therapy Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Occupational Therapy Specialist Job

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

United States
  • All Care Therapies

    Columbus, OH

    All Care Therapies | Columbus, OH

    Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) - Bilingual Spanish Remote. All Care Therapies is a leading provider of Physical, Occupational, Speech, and... more

    6 Days Ago

  • CommuniCare Corporate

    Columbus, OH

    CommuniCare Corporate | Columbus, OH

    PRN Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). CommuniCare Rehab, a member of the CommuniCare Family of Companies has a PRN position available for a ... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Concept Rehab, Inc.

    Columbus, OH

    Concept Rehab, Inc. | Columbus, OH

    Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Flexible Schedule | Therapist-Owned & Operated. We are currently seeking PRN Certified Occupational Therap... more

    3 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Emergency Medicine Physician Needed near Columbus, Ohio. An excellent opportunity for a full-time EM Physician to join an Emergency Department team near Co... more

    3 Days Ago

  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    3 Days Ago

  • Alto Health Care Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    RN

    Alto Health Care Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Position Overview. We are currently seeking experienced and compassionate Registered Nurses (RNs) to join our network of healthcare professionals. As a Reg... more

    3 Days Ago

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FAQ about Occupational Therapy Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Occupational Therapy Specialist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Occupational Therapy Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

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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