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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

29-1122 Occupational Therapists

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. Excludes “Rehabilitation Counselors” (21-1015).


National estimates for Occupational Therapists
Industry profile for Occupational Therapists
Geographic profile for Occupational Therapists

National estimates for Occupational Therapists:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Occupational Therapists:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
134,980 0.9 % $ 44.61 $ 92,800 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for Occupational Therapists:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 30.44 $ 37.36 $ 44.80 $ 50.35 $ 59.55
Annual Wage (2) $ 63,320 $ 77,700 $ 93,180 $ 104,730 $ 123,870


Industry profile for Occupational Therapists:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Occupational Therapists are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Occupational Therapists, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Occupational Therapists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 38,900 3.64 $ 43.63 $ 90,750
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 29,670 0.53 $ 45.85 $ 95,370
Elementary and Secondary Schools 16,950 0.20 $ 39.94 $ 83,070
Home Health Care Services 10,510 0.68 $ 50.82 $ 105,700
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 9,710 0.72 $ 47.12 $ 98,000

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Occupational Therapists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 38,900 3.64 $ 43.63 $ 90,750
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals 8,140 3.01 $ 47.62 $ 99,040
Educational Support Services 1,720 0.77 $ 38.65 $ 80,400
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 9,710 0.72 $ 47.12 $ 98,000
Home Health Care Services 10,510 0.68 $ 50.82 $ 105,700

Top paying industries for Occupational Therapists:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Management of Companies and Enterprises 400 0.02 $ 56.63 $ 117,790
Home Health Care Services 10,510 0.68 $ 50.82 $ 105,700
Outpatient Care Centers 1,530 0.15 $ 49.44 $ 102,840
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals 8,140 3.01 $ 47.62 $ 99,040
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 9,710 0.72 $ 47.12 $ 98,000


Geographic profile for Occupational Therapists:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Occupational Therapists are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Occupational Therapists, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of occupational therapists by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Occupational Therapists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 13,230 0.75 0.82 $ 52.51 $ 109,220
Texas 8,910 0.69 0.75 $ 46.59 $ 96,900
New York 8,660 0.95 1.04 $ 45.81 $ 95,280
Florida 7,760 0.84 0.92 $ 42.75 $ 88,910
Pennsylvania 7,290 1.25 1.37 $ 42.58 $ 88,560


Map of location quotient of occupational therapists by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Occupational Therapists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Maine 1,110 1.81 1.99 $ 36.77 $ 76,490
New Hampshire 990 1.51 1.65 $ 40.35 $ 83,930
Massachusetts 5,190 1.46 1.59 $ 44.15 $ 91,840
Colorado 3,940 1.42 1.56 $ 46.98 $ 97,720
Connecticut 2,250 1.38 1.51 $ 45.87 $ 95,400


Map of annual mean wages of occupational therapists by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Occupational Therapists:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 13,230 0.75 0.82 $ 52.51 $ 109,220
Nevada 780 0.55 0.60 $ 50.49 $ 105,020
New Jersey 4,280 1.04 1.14 $ 50.34 $ 104,710
Alaska 290 0.96 1.05 $ 48.46 $ 100,810
Virginia 3,250 0.84 0.92 $ 47.11 $ 97,980



Map of employment of occupational therapists by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Occupational Therapists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 8,160 0.89 0.97 $ 50.62 $ 105,290
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 5,280 0.87 0.95 $ 51.47 $ 107,060
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 5,210 1.18 1.29 $ 44.83 $ 93,250
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 3,890 1.44 1.57 $ 44.47 $ 92,500
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 3,880 1.40 1.54 $ 46.95 $ 97,650
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,410 0.63 0.69 $ 47.99 $ 99,810
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 2,300 1.48 1.62 $ 48.29 $ 100,440
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 2,260 1.11 1.21 $ 46.43 $ 96,560
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 2,120 0.70 0.77 $ 50.28 $ 104,570
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 2,080 0.76 0.84 $ 46.46 $ 96,640


Map of location quotient of occupational therapists by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Occupational Therapists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Cumberland, MD-WV 100 2.61 2.86 $ 42.07 $ 87,510
Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA 100 2.44 2.68 $ 43.50 $ 90,480
Johnstown, PA 110 2.20 2.41 $ 38.62 $ 80,340
Homosassa Springs, FL 70 2.07 2.26 $ 38.47 $ 80,030
Lewiston-Auburn, ME 100 2.01 2.20 $ 36.48 $ 75,880
Bismarck, ND 140 1.96 2.14 $ 35.11 $ 73,030
Bay City, MI 70 1.93 2.11 $ 35.64 $ 74,140
Colorado Springs, CO 560 1.86 2.04 $ 42.93 $ 89,300
Leominster-Gardner, MA 90 1.84 2.02 $ 41.36 $ 86,030
Worcester, MA-CT 520 1.83 2.00 $ 42.76 $ 88,930


Map of annual mean wages of occupational therapists by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Occupational Therapists:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 690 0.61 0.67 $ 60.86 $ 126,600
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 1,540 0.64 0.70 $ 57.89 $ 120,420
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA 70 0.73 0.80 $ 56.34 $ 117,200
Santa Rosa, CA 100 0.48 0.52 $ 55.90 $ 116,260
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 800 0.78 0.86 $ 55.89 $ 116,240
Modesto, CA 150 0.77 0.85 $ 53.80 $ 111,900
Salinas, CA 120 0.67 0.73 $ 52.51 $ 109,210
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA 110 0.83 0.91 $ 52.23 $ 108,640
Napa, CA 30 0.43 0.47 $ 51.54 $ 107,200
Merced, CA 40 0.53 0.58 $ 51.51 $ 107,130

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Occupational Therapists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 400 2.13 2.33 $ 36.03 $ 74,930
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 280 0.86 0.94 $ 40.34 $ 83,910
Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 260 1.15 1.26 $ 44.00 $ 91,520
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 240 0.63 0.69 $ 41.05 $ 85,370
Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 230 1.25 1.37 $ 40.57 $ 84,390

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Occupational Therapists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 190 2.15 2.36 $ 39.06 $ 81,230
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 400 2.13 2.33 $ 36.03 $ 74,930
Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area 140 2.03 2.23 $ 35.96 $ 74,790
Connecticut nonmetropolitan area 60 1.81 1.98 $ 44.64 $ 92,850
West Central-Southwest New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area 140 1.42 1.56 $ 39.11 $ 81,360

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Occupational Therapists:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 51.24 $ 106,580
Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area 60 0.80 0.88 $ 50.83 $ 105,730
Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area 60 0.96 1.05 $ 50.32 $ 104,660
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 70 0.67 0.73 $ 49.32 $ 102,580
Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area 120 1.00 1.09 $ 48.31 $ 100,480


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023