What are the main factors that influence an Occupational Therapy Specialist's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

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.

How does experience change An Occupational Therapy Specialist's salary?

An Occupational Therapy Specialist's salary grows with experience: starting around $119,301 for beginners, reaching about $123,189 at mid-level, and approach $127,795 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for an Occupational Therapy Specialist?

Occupational Therapy Specialist salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Occupational Therapy Specialist roles are District of Columbia $120,294, California $119,838, Massachusetts $118,241. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Occupational Therapy Specialist roles make?

Salaries for Occupational Therapy Specialist level roles vary by specialization: Occupational Therapy Department Leader: $127,490; Occupational Therapy Manager: $127,481; PRN Occupational Therapy: $105,577; Occupational Therapy Tech: $101,111; Professor Of Occupational Therapy: $85,691.

Occupational Therapy Specialist Salary in District of Columbia

How much does an Occupational Therapy Specialist make in District of Columbia?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Occupational Therapy Specialist in District of Columbia is $120,294 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $58.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $138,730
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $110,081 to $129,944
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $100,782

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Occupational Therapy Specialist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$129,944	$10,829	$2,499	$62
Average	$120,294	$10,024	$2,313	$58
25th Percentile	$110,081	$9,173	$2,117	$53

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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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 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): $119,301
Early Career (1-2 years): $119,584
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $123,189
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $127,488
Expert (over 8 years): $127,795

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Occupational Therapy Specialist	$119,301
Intermediate Level Occupational Therapy Specialist	$119,584
Senior Level Occupational Therapy Specialist	$123,189
Specialist Level Occupational Therapy Specialist	$127,488
Expert Level Occupational Therapy Specialist	$127,795

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Occupational Therapy Specialist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Occupational Therapy Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $120,294.
California: $119,838.
Massachusetts: $118,241.

District of Columbia $120,294 California $119,838 Massachusetts $118,241 Washington $117,806 New Jersey $117,762 Alaska $117,610 Connecticut $116,111 New York $115,503

Hawaii $113,558 Rhode Island $112,645 Maryland $112,026 Minnesota $111,178 Colorado $110,853 Illinois $110,744 Oregon $110,331 Delaware $110,027

New Hampshire $109,836 Virginia $109,408 Pennsylvania $108,158 Nevada $107,528 North Dakota $107,322 Michigan $106,996 Wisconsin $106,876 Vermont $106,637

Texas $105,974 Maine $105,931 Arizona $105,866 Ohio $105,790 Georgia $104,790 Indiana $104,290 Wyoming $104,192 Utah $104,040

Iowa $103,975 Kansas $103,454 Louisiana $103,302 North Carolina $103,247 Missouri $103,226 Florida $102,802 Montana $102,574 Nebraska $102,356

Kentucky $102,237 South Carolina $101,802 Tennessee $101,531 Idaho $101,422 New Mexico $100,629 Oklahoma $100,455 Alabama $99,814 South Dakota $98,738

Arkansas $98,152 West Virginia $97,837 Mississippi $96,891

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:

Parcel Return Service: $119,641
Washington: $119,642
Naval Anacost Annex: $119,637

Parcel Return Service, DC $119,641 Washington, DC $119,642 Naval Anacost Annex, DC $119,637 Washington Navy Yard, DC $119,641

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	$144,353	$69.0	20%

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

$110,081

Average $120,294/year

$129,944

$9,173

Average $10,024/month

$10,829

$2,117

Average $2,313/week

$2,499

$53

Average $58/hour

$62

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$129,944	$10,829	$2,499	$62
Average	$120,294	$10,024	$2,313	$58
25th Percentile	$110,081	$9,173	$2,117	$53

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