Occupational Therapist Salary in 2026: What OTs Really Earn
Average Occupational Therapist Salary in 2026
Occupational therapists in the United States earn an average salary of $78,000 per year in 2026. Entry-level OTs typically start at $58,000 to $68,000, while experienced OTs in high-demand markets and specialty settings earn $95,000 to $115,000. COTAs (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants) earn less, averaging $52,000 to $68,000 nationally.
OT Salary by Setting
Pediatric settings, particularly early intervention and school-based positions, are among the most popular for OTs and offer solid compensation. Acute care and inpatient rehabilitation hospitals pay the highest base salaries. Home health OT, similar to home health PT, allows experienced clinicians to maximize income through per-visit compensation structures.
| Setting | Avg Annual Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Acute Care / Hospital | $84,000 | Highest base for OTs |
| Inpatient Rehabilitation | $82,000 | Team-based, structured schedule |
| Pediatric Outpatient | $79,000 | High demand, fulfilling work |
| Home Health | $78,000 | Per-visit pay potential |
| SNF / Long-Term Care | $76,000 | Stable, predictable caseload |
| School-Based | $72,000 | Summer off, pension benefits |
| Travel OT | $92,000+ | Tax-free stipends boost income |
OT Salary by State
California leads all states for OT compensation, followed by Washington, New Jersey, and New York. The West Coast and Northeast offer the strongest pay, while the Southeast and Midwest trail the national average. However, states without income taxes — Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Nevada — offer better effective take-home pay than raw salary comparisons suggest.
| State | Avg OT Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $95,000 |
| Washington | $91,000 |
| New Jersey | $91,000 |
| New York | $94,000 |
| Massachusetts | $92,000 |
| Alaska | $92,000 |
| Mississippi | $68,000 |
| West Virginia | $69,000 |
| Alabama | $72,000 |
COTA Salary vs OT Salary
COTAs work under the supervision of a licensed OT and handle many direct patient care tasks. Their national average salary of $52,000 to $68,000 reflects their associate-level degree and scope of practice. The OT vs COTA salary gap narrows in home health and SNF settings, where COTAs with experience and strong productivity can earn competitively. Some COTAs later pursue bridge programs to complete OT degrees.
Fastest-Growing OT Specialties in 2026
Driving OT salary growth in 2026 are three emerging specialties: hand therapy (CHT certification adds $10,000 to $20,000 to base salary), low vision rehabilitation (growing demand from aging Baby Boomers), and environmental modification and aging-in-place consultation. Telehealth OT is also expanding, with remote cognitive rehabilitation and mental health OT practices growing in urban and rural markets alike.
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Browse Occupational Therapy JobsFrequently Asked Questions
What is the starting salary for an occupational therapist?+
New graduate OTs typically earn $58,000 to $68,000 per year. School districts and SNFs often offer competitive entry-level salaries to attract new graduates.
Do travel OTs make more than staff OTs?+
Yes. Travel OT weekly packages typically exceed staff OT annual salaries on an hourly equivalent basis by 30 to 50 percent when tax-free stipends are included.
What OT certification pays the most?+
The CHT (Certified Hand Therapist) credential is consistently associated with the highest OT salaries, typically adding $10,000 to $20,000 annually to base compensation.