Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Arizona make a median of $103,660 a year, or about $49.84 an hour. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $107,520 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 21.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $104K get you in Arizona?
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What this looks like in Arizona
Occupational therapists pay in Arizona tracks closely to the national median, $104K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,437/month, 21.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in Arizona
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $105K | +1% | 2,070 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott | $104K | +1% | 70 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman | $104K | +0% | 40 |
| Flagstaff | $103K | -1% | 50 |
| Tucson | $101K | -3% | 310 |
| Yuma | $99K | -4% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 21.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,690/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in Arizona?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $104K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Arizona pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Arizona?
The median is $103,660 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,160, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $131,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,560/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 21.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a occupational therapists salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median occupational therapists salary is worth about $107,520 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do occupational therapists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.