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Occupational therapist salary in Michigan

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$89,910median pay per year in Michigan, or $43.23 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $66,580lowest 10% earn less
  2. $79,39025th percentile
  3. $89,910median
  4. $100,07075th percentile
  5. $105,720top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $100,330[3]

The median pay for occupational therapists in Michigan was $89,910 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $10,420 below the US median[6].

Jobs in MI
5,120[4]
Rank by median pay
45 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−10.4%[6]

How much do occupational therapists make in Michigan?

Half of the occupational therapists in Michigan earned more than $89,910 a year and half earned less[1]. That works out to $43.23 an hour[1]. Across the US, the median was $100,330, so Michigan paid less than the national figure[3][6]. Michigan ranked 45th among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. The median for all jobs in Michigan was $49,270, so this job paid $40,640 more[7][8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $66,580[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $105,720[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $79,390 and $100,070[2].

Among Michigan metro areas, Battle Creek had the highest median at $102,230[9]. Ann Arbor had a median of $95,950 and Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood had $94,450[10]. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn had 2,030 jobs and a median of $89,600[10].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers, part time and full time. It leaves out the self-employed and business owners. Bonuses outside regular production pay and the cost of benefits are also not in the wage figures[11].

Michigan vs US pay

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

MIUS
Median per year$89,910[1]$100,330[3]
Median per hour$43.23[1]$48.24[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$66,580[2]$71,690[12]
Top 10% earn more than$105,720[2]$131,950[12]
Jobs5,120[4]162,450[3]

Pay by metro area in Michigan

Metro areas in Michigan with the most jobs for occupational therapists, and the median pay in each[10]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI[10]$89,6002,030
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI$94,450990
Ann Arbor, MI$95,950280
Flint, MI$85,550160
Lansing-East Lansing, MI$86,590150
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI$92,680140
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI$81,520120
Traverse City, MI$84,260120

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for occupational therapists in the states that border Michigan, highest first[13].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Ohio[13]$99,3906,760
Indiana$97,0203,830
Wisconsin$92,3903,710

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[14]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: master's degree[15].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an occupational therapist make in Michigan?
The median was $89,910 a year in May 2025[1].
How much does an occupational therapist make an hour in Michigan?
The median hourly wage was $43.23[1].
Which city in Michigan pays occupational therapists the most?
Battle Creek had the highest median of the 16 Michigan metro areas with a published figure, at $102,230[9].
Is Michigan a good state for occupational therapists?
Michigan had the 45th highest median annual wage out of 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $10,420 lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become an occupational therapist in Michigan?
This is a US figure, not a Michigan one. Across the US, the typical entry education is a Master's degree, with no related work experience or on-the-job training[15].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Occupational Therapists in Michigan was $89,910 per year and $43.23 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 Michigan: 10th percentile $66,580, 25th percentile $79,390, 75th percentile $100,070, 90th percentile $105,720. 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 5,120 people worked as Occupational Therapists in Michigan (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Michigan had the 45th highest median annual wage for Occupational Therapists out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Occupational Therapists in Michigan ($89,910) was $10,420 (10.4%) lower than the US median ($100,330). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Michigan was $49,270. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Occupational Therapists in Michigan was $40,640 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($49,270). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 16 metro areas in or partly in Michigan with a published median for Occupational Therapists, Battle Creek, MI had the highest median annual wage, $102,230. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Occupational Therapists in states that border Michigan (highest first): Ohio $99,390; Indiana $97,020; Wisconsin $92,390. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. 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
  15. 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

State figures cover only Michigan. 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.