Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Arkansas make a median of $106,360 a year, or about $51.14 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $144K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $121,360 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 15.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $106K actually covers in Arkansas, month by month
About occupational therapists
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Occupational therapists pay in Arkansas tracks closely to the national median, $106K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 15.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $106K. Top earners bring in $144K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in Arkansas
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $108K | +1% | 450 |
| Jonesboro | $106K | +0% | 140 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $105K | -2% | 760 |
| Fort Smith | $98K | -8% | 140 |
| Hot Springs | $82K | -23% | 100 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $106K, rent takes 15.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,321/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $106K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Arkansas pays $106K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $121K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Arkansas?
The median is $106,360 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,160, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $144,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $106K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,603/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 15.5% 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 Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 $121,360 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.