California Median
$124,510
per year
Hourly Rate
$59.86
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+24% vs US median
US median $100,330
State Rank
#1 of 51
13,810 employed here
How much does an Occupational Therapist make in California?
Occupational Therapists in California take home a median of $124,510 annually — roughly $59.86 an hour — which runs 24% above the national median of $100,330.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $85,550 while the top 10% make $158,560 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $103,950 and $136,380 a year.
Occupational Therapist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,550 | $41.13 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $103,950 | $49.98 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $124,510 | $59.86 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $136,380 | $65.57 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $158,560 | $76.23 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories for Occupational Therapist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Occupational Therapist salary in other states
Oregon $112,310Nevada $110,520District of Columbia $109,170Washington $107,670Maryland $106,980Colorado $106,720Arkansas $106,360Texas $106,140Oklahoma $104,300Georgia $104,010Alaska $103,680Arizona $103,660New Jersey $103,410Hawaii $102,870Connecticut $102,440Delaware $102,130South Carolina $101,130Massachusetts $100,930Virginia $100,710Rhode Island $100,040Illinois $99,700Ohio $99,390Florida $99,360Kansas $99,170New Mexico $99,170Louisiana $98,490Pennsylvania $98,440Idaho $97,760Tennessee $97,700Kentucky $97,650Missouri $97,290Utah $97,150Indiana $97,020New York $96,390West Virginia $96,190Mississippi $94,930Alabama $94,050Nebraska $93,740Vermont $93,340Minnesota $93,050North Carolina $92,940Wisconsin $92,390Iowa $89,910Michigan $89,910Montana $88,990Wyoming $86,170South Dakota $85,050Maine $84,310New Hampshire $83,900North Dakota $83,200
Working as an Occupational Therapist in California
Nationally, about 162,000 people work as Occupational Therapists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($124,510) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Occupational Therapist make in California?
The median Occupational Therapist salary in California is $124,510 per year, or about $59.86 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $85,550 at the entry level to $158,560 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Occupational Therapists about 24% more than the national median of $100,330. California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Occupational Therapists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $124,510 a year. About 13,810 Occupational Therapists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Occupational Therapist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.