Occupational Therapist Compensation

The median annual wage of occupational therapists was $72,320 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $48,920, and the top 10 percent more than $102,520.

Median annual wages in selected industries employing occupational therapists in May 2010 were: 

Home health care services	$79,570
Nursing care facilities	$78,410
Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists	$73,770
Hospitals; state, local, and private	$72,450
Individual and family services	$64,520

Most occupational therapists worked full time in 2010. About 30 percent worked part time. They may work nights or weekends, as needed, to accommodate patients’ schedules.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition