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Occupational therapist salary in New Jersey

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$103,410median pay per year in New Jersey, or $49.72 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $78,690lowest 10% earn less
  2. $91,77025th percentile
  3. $103,410median
  4. $128,39075th percentile
  5. $159,230top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $100,330[3]

The median wage for occupational therapists in New Jersey was $103,410 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $3,080 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in NJ
6,290[4]
Rank by median pay
14 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+3.1%[6]

How much do occupational therapists make in New Jersey?

The median is the middle point. Half of occupational therapists in New Jersey earned more than $103,410 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $49.72 an hour[1]. The average was a bit higher, at $110,150 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for occupational therapists was $100,330[3]. New Jersey sat $3,080 above it[6]. Next to all jobs in the state, where the median was $58,570[8], occupational therapists earned $44,840 more[9]. New Jersey ranked 14th among the 50 states and DC for the median wage in this job[5].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $78,690[2]. The top 10% earned more than $159,230[2]. Among metro areas in or partly in New Jersey, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD had the highest median, $103,140[10]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers, so self-employed therapists are left out. Bonuses outside regular production pay and the value of benefits are not in these wages either[11].

New Jersey vs US pay

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

NJUS
Median per year$103,410[1]$100,330[3]
Median per hour$49.72[1]$48.24[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$78,690[2]$71,690[12]
Top 10% earn more than$159,230[2]$131,950[12]
Jobs6,290[4]162,450[3]

Pay by metro area in New Jersey

Metro areas in New Jersey with the most jobs for occupational therapists, and the median pay in each[13]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ[13]$101,46011,640
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$103,1403,410
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ$98,440470
Trenton-Princeton, NJ$101,370210
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ$97,130110
Vineland, NJ$95,44060

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Delaware[14]$102,130490
Pennsylvania$98,4406,560
New York$96,39011,690

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 New Jersey?
The median wage for occupational therapists in New Jersey was $103,410 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $110,150 a year[7].
How much does an occupational therapist make an hour in New Jersey?
The median was $49.72 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $37.83 an hour and the 90th percentile was $76.56[17].
Which city in New Jersey pays occupational therapists the most?
Of the 6 metro areas in or partly in New Jersey with a published median, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD had the highest, at $103,140 a year[10]. Metro areas that cross state lines are counted as a whole[13].
Is New Jersey a good state for occupational therapists?
New Jersey ranked 14th among the 50 states and DC for median pay in this job[5]. Its median of $103,410 was $3,080 above the US median[6].
What do you need to become an occupational therapist in New Jersey?
Across the US, the typical entry path is a master's degree, with no work experience in a related job and no on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not one for New Jersey.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Occupational Therapists in New Jersey was $103,410 per year and $49.72 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 New Jersey: 10th percentile $78,690, 25th percentile $91,770, 75th percentile $128,390, 90th percentile $159,230. 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 6,290 people worked as Occupational Therapists in New Jersey (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: New Jersey had the 14th 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 New Jersey ($103,410) was $3,080 (3.1%) higher than the US median ($100,330). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Occupational Therapists in New Jersey was $110,150 per year and $52.96 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in New Jersey was $58,570. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Occupational Therapists in New Jersey was $44,840 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,570). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 6 metro areas in or partly in New Jersey with a published median for Occupational Therapists, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD had the highest median annual wage, $103,140. 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. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Occupational Therapists in states that border New Jersey (highest first): Delaware $102,130; Pennsylvania $98,440; New York $96,390. 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 New Jersey: 10th percentile $37.83, 25th percentile $44.12, 75th percentile $61.72, 90th percentile $76.56. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only New Jersey. 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.