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Occupational therapist salary in North Carolina

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

$92,940median pay per year in North Carolina, or $44.68 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $62,230lowest 10% earn less
  2. $77,51025th percentile
  3. $92,940median
  4. $104,82075th percentile
  5. $118,300top 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 North Carolina was $92,940 a year in May 2025[1]. That was 7.4% lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in NC
4,490[4]
Rank by median pay
42 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−7.4%[6]

How much do occupational therapists make in North Carolina?

The median for occupational therapists in North Carolina was $92,940 a year, or $44.68 an hour[1]. Half earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $91,360 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $100,330[3], so North Carolina sat 7.4% below it[6]. The state ranked 42nd out of the 50 states and DC for this median[5].

For all jobs in the state, the median was $47,970 a year[8]. Occupational therapists earned $44,970 more than that[9]. At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $62,230[2]. At the high end, the top-paid 10% earned more than $118,300[2].

By metro area, Greenville, NC had the highest median at $101,360[10]. Among the larger metros, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia had a median of $98,450[11]. Raleigh-Cary was at $84,080[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. Self-employed therapists are left out, and so are bonuses and the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

North Carolina vs US pay

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

NCUS
Median per year$92,940[1]$100,330[3]
Median per hour$44.68[1]$48.24[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$62,230[2]$71,690[13]
Top 10% earn more than$118,300[2]$131,950[13]
Jobs4,490[4]162,450[3]

Pay by metro area in North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina with the most jobs for occupational therapists, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC[11]$98,4501,140
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$99,400830
Raleigh-Cary, NC$84,080680
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC$83,160390
Greensboro-High Point, NC$96,820270
Wilmington, NC$86,420260
Winston-Salem, NC$93,780260
Asheville, NC$83,660210

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Georgia[14]$104,0103,650
South Carolina$101,1301,840
Virginia$100,7104,150
Tennessee$97,7002,490

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 North Carolina?
The median was $92,940 a year in May 2025, and the average was $91,360[1][7]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $62,230, and the top-paid 10% earned more than $118,300[2].
How much does an occupational therapist make an hour in North Carolina?
The median hourly wage was $44.68[1]. The 10th percentile was $29.92 an hour and the 90th percentile was $56.87[17].
Which city in North Carolina pays occupational therapists the most?
Greenville, NC had the highest median annual wage among the metro areas with a published figure, at $101,360[10]. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia had a median of $98,450[11].
How does North Carolina compare with other states for occupational therapists?
North Carolina had the 42nd highest median annual wage out of the 50 states and DC[5]. Georgia was at $104,010 and Tennessee at $97,700[14].
What do you need to become an occupational therapist in North Carolina?
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 a North Carolina one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Occupational Therapists in North Carolina was $92,940 per year and $44.68 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 North Carolina: 10th percentile $62,230, 25th percentile $77,510, 75th percentile $104,820, 90th percentile $118,300. 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 4,490 people worked as Occupational Therapists in North Carolina (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: North Carolina had the 42nd 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 North Carolina ($92,940) was $7,390 (7.4%) lower than the US median ($100,330). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Occupational Therapists in North Carolina was $91,360 per year and $43.93 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Occupational Therapists in North Carolina was $44,970 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 16 metro areas in or partly in North Carolina with a published median for Occupational Therapists, Greenville, NC had the highest median annual wage, $101,360. 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 North Carolina (highest first): Georgia $104,010; South Carolina $101,130; Virginia $100,710; Tennessee $97,700. 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 North Carolina: 10th percentile $29.92, 25th percentile $37.26, 75th percentile $50.40, 90th percentile $56.87. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only North Carolina. 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.