School Based Occupational Therapist Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a School Based Occupational Therapist in the United States is $105,261 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $121,385
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $96,258 to $113,701
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $88,061
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $96,258 10% $88,061 90% $121,385 75% $113,701 $105,261 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

School Based Occupational Therapist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $113,701 $9,475 $2,187 $55
Average $105,261 $8,772 $2,024 $51
25th Percentile $96,258 $8,022 $1,851 $46
Check out School Based Occupational Therapist Job Openings in the United States
School

Thriving Tots Therapy - YOLO, CA

Occupational Therapist

Children's Therapy Solutions, Inc. - BRADENTON, FL

School

Inclusive Learning Partners - BRENTWOOD, CA

School

Constellation Health Services - STAMFORD, CT

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Key Factors That Influence School Based Occupational Therapist Salaries

A School Based 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 School Based Occupational Therapist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a School Based 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): $104,385
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $104,635
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $107,806
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $111,557
  • Expert (over 8 years): $111,825
Levels Salary
Entry Level School Based Occupational Therapist$104,385
Intermediate Level School Based Occupational Therapist$104,635
Senior Level School Based Occupational Therapist$107,806
Specialist Level School Based Occupational Therapist$111,557
Expert Level School Based Occupational Therapist$111,825
$104,385 0 yr
$104,635 < 2 yrs
$107,806 2-4 yrs
$111,557 5-8 yrs
$111,825 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for School Based 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: $132,766
  • San Francisco: $131,460
  • Oakland: $128,545

What Skills Can Increase a School Based 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 School Based 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
 $112,629
7%
Organizational Skills
 $109,471
4%
Commitment
 $107,366
2%
Dedication
 $107,366
2%
Clinical Leadership
 $107,366
2%
Written Communication
 $107,366
2%
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How Education impacts a School Based Occupational Therapist's Salary?

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

School Based Occupational Therapist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for School Based 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%
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School Based Occupational Therapist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a School Based 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on January 01, 2026
$96,258
Average $105,261/year
$113,701
$8,022
Average $8,772/month
$9,475
$1,851
Average $2,024/week
$2,187
$46
Average $51/hour
$55
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $113,701 $9,475 $2,187 $55
Average $105,261 $8,772 $2,024 $51
25th Percentile $96,258 $8,022 $1,851 $46

Salaries of jobs related to School Based Occupational Therapist

Salary Trends for School Based Occupational Therapist

Salaries for a School Based Occupational Therapist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $111,665 in 2023 to around $111,235 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of School Based Occupational Therapist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of School Based Occupational Therapist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$111,665
2024
$113,016
2025
$111,235
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $111,665
2024 $113,016
2025 $111,235
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for School Based Occupational Therapist

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

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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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