State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Occupational Therapist Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Occupational Therapists is $100,330 a year ($48.24/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 13.8% through 2034, with about 10,200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
SOC 29-1122Healthcare Practitioners and TechnicalLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $100,330
- Projected growth
- +13.8%
- Openings a year
- 10,200
- Typical education
- Master's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Assistive Technology Trainer, Certified Hand Therapist (CHT), Early Intervention Occupational Therapist, Home Health Occupational Therapist, Industrial Rehabilitation Consultant, Occupational Therapist (OT).
How much do Occupational Therapists make?
10th percentile$71,690
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$82,510
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$100,330
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$116,670
Upper quartile
90th percentile$131,950
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $100,330 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $48.24/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $101,280 |
| People employed | 162,450 |
Versus all US occupations
At $100,330, Occupational Therapists earn 97% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $49,350 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $97,870, this is 3% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $131,950 or more while the bottom 10% earn $71,690, a gap of 1.8×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 79% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
California posts the highest raw median ($124,510), but once local prices are taken into account Arkansas leads at $122,341 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Occupational Therapists the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $124,510 | $112,455 | 13,810 |
| Oregon | $112,310 | $108,658 | 1,170 |
| Nevada | $110,520 | $110,543 | 1,080 |
| District of Columbia | $109,170 | $99,335 | 540 |
| Washington | $107,670 | $100,614 | 3,340 |
| Maryland | $106,980 | $101,926 | 2,390 |
| Colorado | $106,720 | $103,559 | 3,390 |
| Arkansas | $106,360 | $122,341 | 2,160 |
| Texas | $106,140 | $109,358 | 13,400 |
| Oklahoma | $104,300 | $118,735 | 1,180 |
Is Occupational Therapist a growing career?
Occupational Therapists13.8%
All US occupations3.1%
+13.8% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Occupational Therapists to change 13.8% over 2024–2034, roughly 4.5× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 22,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 10,200 openings are projected each year, 6.4% of the 160,000 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for occupational therapists is expected to rise as the size of the older adult population grows. Older adults are more likely than younger people to experience disabilities and limitations in doing everyday tasks. Therefore, more occupational therapists will be needed to help these clients maintain their independence and the ability to perform daily activities.
In addition, occupational therapy will continue to be an important part of treatment for people with various conditions and disabilities, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy, stroke, or the loss of a limb. Occupational therapy also will continue to be used to treat children and young adults with developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder.
How to become an Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapists enter the profession with either a master's or a doctoral degree from an ACOTE-accredited program, then pass the NBCOT certification exam to become an Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR), then obtain a license from their state. There is no mandate requiring the doctorate.
The credential path, step by step
- Complete a bachelor's degree with the required science coursework4 years
The bachelor's does not need to be in a particular subject, but master's programs frequently require completed coursework in biology, psychology and other sciences, and some require prior volunteer or paid experience in an occupational therapy setting.
- Graduate from an ACOTE-accredited entry-level program2 to 3 years for a master's
Entry is at either master's or doctoral level. There is no ACOTE mandate to move to the doctorate: institutions may run a master's program, a doctoral program, or both, and graduates of either are eligible for the NBCOT exam.
- Complete the supervised fieldwork built into the program
Accredited programs require a specified number of hours of supervised fieldwork. Having completed fieldwork inside an accredited program is part of what makes you eligible to sit the exam.
- Pass the NBCOT certification exam to earn the OTR credential
Passing confers the Occupational Therapist Registered title. Candidates educated outside the US must first be approved through NBCOT's Occupational Therapist Eligibility Determination (OTED) process.
- Apply for a state license, then maintain both credentials
Licensure requirements vary by state but a passing exam score is the minimum everywhere. After that, keep the state license current with state-set continuing education and renew NBCOT certification every three years with 36 units.
Exams you have to pass
NBCOT OTR certification examination
Taken after graduating with an entry-level occupational therapy degree from an ACOTE-accredited program. Passing it is what allows you to use the title Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR), and states require it as the qualifying exam for licensure.
Administered by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
- Program accreditation
ACOTE · Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
You must graduate from an ACOTE-accredited program to be eligible for the NBCOT certification exam. Students in a developing program that fails to gain accreditation are not eligible and must transfer to an accredited program to qualify.
- How long the training takes
2 to 3 years
Master's degree programs usually take 2 to 3 years after a bachelor's degree and include a specified number of hours of supervised fieldwork. Entry-level doctoral programs are the alternative route.
- Continuing education
Required to stay credentialed
Two separate clocks run. State license renewal requires a number of continuing-education hours set by that state. NBCOT certification renews on a three-year cycle and requires at least 36 units, earned as professional development units and/or competency assessment units.
Licensing and state variation
Licensed state by state
All states require a license and, at minimum, a passing score on the qualifying exam, so the exam is constant. What differs is the state application process and the number of continuing-education hours each state sets for renewal. Degree level is not a state variable: ACOTE accredits both master's and doctoral entry-level programs and both are routes into practice.
Who governs the credential
- National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) — Administers the national certification exam and awards and maintains the OTR credential that states rely on for licensure.
Credential detail for occupational therapists is researched by hand from the bodies that issue it, not derived from BLS or O*NET. Sources last checked August 23, 2026. Requirements change: confirm with your own state board before enrolling in anything.
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Occupational Therapists (How to Become One) · checked August 23, 2026
- ACOTE, Student Resources (Student FAQ: Program Accreditation Status) · checked August 23, 2026
- NBCOT, Eligibility · checked August 23, 2026
- NBCOT, Renew · checked August 23, 2026
What the federal data says
To enter the occupation, occupational therapists typically need a master’s degree in occupational therapy. All states require occupational therapists to be licensed.
| Typical entry-level education | Master's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Considerable preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as occupational therapists.
- Master's Degree86.4%
- Bachelor's Degree13.6%
What does an Occupational Therapist do?
Assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual's environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual.
Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities. They help clients meet goals to develop, recover, improve, and maintain skills needed for daily living and working.
Day-to-day tasks
- Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
- Complete and maintain necessary records.
- Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate persons with disabilities because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems.
- Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.
- Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress.
- Train caregivers in providing for the needs of a patient during and after therapy.
- Lay out materials such as puzzles, scissors and eating utensils for use in therapy, and clean and repair these tools after therapy sessions.
- Consult with rehabilitation team to select activity programs or coordinate occupational therapy with other therapeutic activities.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most occupational therapists work full time, but part-time work is common. They may work nights or weekends, as needed, to accommodate clients’ schedules.
Where the work happens
- Indoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where occupational therapists work
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 28% |
|---|---|
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | 27% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 13% |
| Home healthcare services | 8% |
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) | 7% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Active Listening4.1/5
- Monitoring4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension4.0/5
- Writing4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Critical Thinking4.0/5
- Active Learning3.9/5
- Learning Strategies3.9/5
Transferable skills
- Service Orientation4.1/5
- Social Perceptiveness4.0/5
- Instructing4.0/5
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0/5
- Coordination3.8/5
- Time Management3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.3/5
- Operations Analysis3.1/5
Tools and software
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Billing and invoicing software
- Computer based training software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Device drivers or system software
- Electronic mail software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits an Occupational Therapist?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary3.6
Investigativeprimary4.2
Artistic3.1
Socialprimary6.1
Enterprising1.8
Conventional3.1
Day to day this is work built around teaching, helping and working directly with other people, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Occupational Therapist: frequently asked questions
How much do Occupational Therapists make?
Occupational Therapists earn a median of $100,330 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 97% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $48.24/hr. The middle half earn between $82,510 and $116,670. The top 10% earn $131,950 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Occupational Therapist?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Occupational Therapists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 86.4% hold master's degree.
Is Occupational Therapist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 13.8% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 10,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Occupational Therapist do?
Occupational therapists evaluate and treat people who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities. A core O*NET task: test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients. Employers most often ask for Medical software, Office suite software, Spreadsheet software.
Which states pay Occupational Therapists the most?
The highest state medians for Occupational Therapists are California ($124,510), Oregon ($112,310), Nevada ($110,520) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Arkansas moves to the top at $122,341.
What personality type suits an Occupational Therapist?
O*NET scores Occupational Therapists highest on the Social, Investigative and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes teaching, helping and working directly with other people with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISFP, INFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.
How long does it take to become an Occupational Therapist?
2 to 3 years. Master's degree programs usually take 2 to 3 years after a bachelor's degree and include a specified number of hours of supervised fieldwork. Entry-level doctoral programs are the alternative route.
Do you need a license to work as an Occupational Therapist?
Yes, and it is issued by the state you work in, not nationally. All states require a license and, at minimum, a passing score on the qualifying exam, so the exam is constant. What differs is the state application process and the number of continuing-education hours each state sets for renewal. Degree level is not a state variable: ACOTE accredits both master's and doctoral entry-level programs and both are routes into practice.
What exams do you have to pass to become an Occupational Therapist?
The NBCOT OTR certification examination. Taken after graduating with an entry-level occupational therapy degree from an ACOTE-accredited program. Passing it is what allows you to use the title Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR), and states require it as the qualifying exam for licensure.