The average salary for an occupational therapist in California is around $124,510 per year.
Avg Salary
Occupational therapists earn an average yearly salary of $124,510.
Wages typically start from $85,550 and go up to $158,560.
50% above national average Updated in 2025
Occupational therapist earnings by seniority
Top-level occupational therapist earnings begin at:
$76.23 per hour
$158,560 per year
Senior-level occupational therapist earnings begin at:
$65.57 per hour
$136,380 per year
Mid-level occupational therapist earnings begin at:
$59.86 per hour
$124,510 per year
Junior-level occupational therapist earnings begin at:
$49.98 per hour
$103,950 per year
Starting level occupational therapist earnings begin at:
$41.13 per hour
$85,550 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Occupational therapist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $99,700 |
| Ohio | $99,390 |
| Florida | $99,360 |
| Kansas | $99,170 |
| New Mexico | $99,170 |
| Louisiana | $98,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,440 |
| Idaho | $97,760 |
| Tennessee | $97,700 |
| Kentucky | $97,650 |
| Missouri | $97,290 |
| Utah | $97,150 |
| Indiana | $97,020 |
| New York | $96,390 |
| West Virginia | $96,190 |
| Mississippi | $94,930 |
| Alabama | $94,050 |
| Nebraska | $93,740 |
| Vermont | $93,340 |
| Minnesota | $93,050 |
| North Carolina | $92,940 |
| Wisconsin | $92,390 |
| Iowa | $89,910 |
| Michigan | $89,910 |
| Montana | $88,990 |
| Wyoming | $86,170 |
| South Dakota | $85,050 |
| Maine | $84,310 |
| New Hampshire | $83,900 |
| North Dakota | $83,200 |
| Puerto Rico | $37,490 |
| California | $124,510 |
| Oregon | $112,310 |
| Nevada | $110,520 |
| District of Columbia | $109,170 |
| Washington | $107,670 |
| Maryland | $106,980 |
| Colorado | $106,720 |
| Arkansas | $106,360 |
| Texas | $106,140 |
| Oklahoma | $104,300 |
| Georgia | $104,010 |
| Alaska | $103,680 |
| Arizona | $103,660 |
| New Jersey | $103,410 |
| Hawaii | $102,870 |
| Connecticut | $102,440 |
| Delaware | $102,130 |
| South Carolina | $101,130 |
| Massachusetts | $100,930 |
| Virginia | $100,710 |
| Rhode Island | $100,040 |
How do occupational therapist salaries compare to similar careers?
Occupational therapists earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than dental hygienists but more than microbiologists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Dental hygienist salary | $125K |
| School psychologist salary | $128K |
| Geneticist salary | $114K |
| Clinical psychologist salary | $116K |
| Physical therapist salary | $124K |
| Occupational therapist salary | $125K |
| MRI technologist salary | $124K |
| Speech language pathologist salary | $119K |
| Epidemiologist salary | $111K |
| Microbiologist salary | $109K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)