Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Bismarck, ND make a median of $83,080 a year, or about $39.94 an hour. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $116K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.02), which stretches that salary to about $91,277 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,175/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $83K get you in Bismarck?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bismarck’s Regional Price Parity (91.02). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About occupational therapists
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What this looks like in Bismarck
Pay for occupational therapists in Bismarck runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $100K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,175/month, 21.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.02 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Bismarck can be a reasonable trade-off for occupational therapistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for occupational therapists in metros near Bismarck, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $82K | $90K |
| Grand Forks | $81K | $93K |
| Minot | $90K | $103K |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $94K | $89K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bismarck, ND
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $116K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Occupational Therapists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $125K | +24% | 13,810 |
| Oregon | $112K | +12% | 1,170 |
| Nevada | $111K | +10% | 1,080 |
| District of Columbia | $109K | +9% | 540 |
| Washington | $108K | +7% | 3,340 |
| Maryland | $107K | +7% | 2,390 |
| Colorado | $107K | +6% | 3,390 |
| Arkansas | $106K | +6% | 2,160 |
| Texas | $106K | +6% | 13,400 |
| Oklahoma | $104K | +4% | 1,180 |
| Georgia | $104K | +4% | 3,650 |
| Alaska | $104K | +3% | 410 |
| Arizona | $104K | +3% | 2,680 |
| New Jersey | $103K | +3% | 6,290 |
| Hawaii | $103K | +3% | 390 |
| Connecticut | $102K | +2% | 3,150 |
| Delaware | $102K | +2% | 490 |
| South Carolina | $101K | +1% | 1,840 |
| Massachusetts | $101K | +1% | 6,510 |
| Virginia | $101K | +0% | 4,150 |
| Rhode Island | $100K | -0% | 770 |
| Illinois | $100K | -1% | 7,710 |
| Ohio | $99K | -1% | 6,760 |
| Florida | $99K | -1% | 10,650 |
| New Mexico | $99K | -1% | 1,030 |
| Kansas | $99K | -1% | 1,560 |
| Louisiana | $98K | -2% | 2,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $98K | -2% | 6,560 |
| Idaho | $98K | -3% | 840 |
| Tennessee | $98K | -3% | 2,490 |
| Kentucky | $98K | -3% | 2,190 |
| Missouri | $97K | -3% | 3,400 |
| Utah | $97K | -3% | 1,030 |
| Indiana | $97K | -3% | 3,830 |
| New York | $96K | -4% | 11,690 |
| West Virginia | $96K | -4% | 700 |
| Mississippi | $95K | -5% | 1,340 |
| Alabama | $94K | -6% | 1,500 |
| Nebraska | $94K | -7% | 1,500 |
| Vermont | $93K | -7% | 320 |
| Minnesota | $93K | -7% | 3,670 |
| North Carolina | $93K | -7% | 4,490 |
| Wisconsin | $92K | -8% | 3,710 |
| Iowa | $90K | -10% | 1,290 |
| Michigan | $90K | -10% | 5,120 |
| Montana | $89K | -11% | 420 |
| Wyoming | $86K | -14% | 350 |
| South Dakota | $85K | -15% | 490 |
| Maine | $84K | -16% | 1,120 |
| New Hampshire | $84K | -16% | 1,240 |
| North Dakota | $83K | -17% | 570 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track occupational therapists salary changes
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Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Bismarck?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 21.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,175/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Bismarck?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,270/month. At HUD’s $1,175/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in Bismarck?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $83K here vs. $100K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Bismarck compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Bismarck pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.02), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Bismarck, ND?
The median is $83,080 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,160, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $115,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Bismarck?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,434/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,175/month, which eats 21.6% 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 Bismarck?
Bismarck has a Regional Price Parity of 91.02 (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 $91,277 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.