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Occupational therapist salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$124,510median pay per year in California, or $59.86 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $85,550lowest 10% earn less
  2. $103,95025th percentile
  3. $124,510median
  4. $136,38075th percentile
  5. $158,560top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $100,330[3]

The median occupational therapist in California earned $124,510 a year in May 2025[1]. That was the highest median among the 50 states and DC[5].

Jobs in CA
13,810[4]
Rank by median pay
1 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+24.1%[6]

How much do occupational therapists make in California?

Half of occupational therapists in California earned more than $124,510 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $59.86 an hour[1]. The average was a little lower, at $121,920 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for occupational therapists was $100,330[3]. California was $24,180 (24.1%) higher[6]. For all jobs in the state, the median was $58,240, so occupational therapists were $66,270 above it[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $85,550, and the top 10% earned more than $158,560[2]. Among metro areas in or partly in California with a published median, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara paid the most, at $136,870[10]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had a median of $136,770[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed and does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for occupational therapists in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$124,510[1]$100,330[3]
Median per hour$59.86[1]$48.24[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$85,550[2]$71,690[13]
Top 10% earn more than$158,560[2]$131,950[13]
Jobs13,810[4]162,450[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for occupational therapists, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$122,0404,950
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$121,6801,620
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$136,7701,560
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$119,5301,110
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$136,870840
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$122,780810
Fresno, CA$116,690320
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$120,570300

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for occupational therapists in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[14]$112,3101,170
Nevada$110,5201,080
Arizona$103,6602,680

Median pay for occupational therapists in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for occupational therapists are projected to grow 14.8% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: master's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an occupational therapist make in California?
The median was $124,510 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $121,920[7].
How much does an occupational therapist make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage was $59.86[1]. The 10th percentile was $41.13 an hour and the 90th percentile was $76.23[17].
Which city in California pays occupational therapists the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara had the highest median among California metro areas with a published figure, at $136,870 a year[10].
Is California a good state for occupational therapists?
California had the 1st highest median annual wage for occupational therapists among the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median was $24,180 above the US median[6].
What do you need to become an occupational therapist in California?
Across the US, the typical entry education is a master's degree, with no work experience or on-the-job training needed[16]. This is a US figure, not specific to California.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Occupational Therapists in California was $124,510 per year and $59.86 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Occupational Therapists in California: 10th percentile $85,550, 25th percentile $103,950, 75th percentile $136,380, 90th percentile $158,560. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Occupational Therapists in the US as a whole was $100,330 per year and $48.24 per hour, with about 162,450 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 13,810 people worked as Occupational Therapists in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 1st highest median annual wage for Occupational Therapists out of the 50 states and DC with a published median (the highest of all). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Occupational Therapists in California ($124,510) was $24,180 (24.1%) higher than the US median ($100,330). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Occupational Therapists in California was $121,920 per year and $58.61 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Occupational Therapists in California was $66,270 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 23 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Occupational Therapists, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median annual wage, $136,870. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Occupational Therapists in the US: 10th percentile $71,690, 25th percentile $82,510, 75th percentile $116,670, 90th percentile $131,950. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Occupational Therapists in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $112,310; Nevada $110,520; Arizona $103,660. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Occupational Therapists is projected to grow 14.8% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 10,000 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Occupational Therapists: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Occupational Therapists in California: 10th percentile $41.13, 25th percentile $49.98, 75th percentile $65.57, 90th percentile $76.23. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.