Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Chico, CA make a median of $129,260 a year, or about $62.14 an hour. The range runs from $102K at the entry level to $144K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.2), that's roughly $127,727 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,625/month, or 21.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $129K get you in Chico?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chico’s Regional Price Parity (101.2). 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 Chico
Chico sits well above the national pay line for occupational therapists, local pay runs about 29% higher than the U.S. median of $100K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,625/month, 21.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 101.2) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Chico offers a genuinely strong financial position for occupational therapistss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for occupational therapists in metros near Chico, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $122K | $107K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $122K | $109K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $137K | $118K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $120K | $112K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chico, CA
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $102K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $144K or more, a $42K 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 Chico?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 21.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,625/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Chico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $102K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,114/month. At HUD’s $1,625/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in Chico?
Local pay is 29% above the national median — $129K here vs. $100K nationally.
How does Chico compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Chico pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $128K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Chico, CA?
The median is $129,260 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $101,900, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $143,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Chico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,579/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,625/month, which eats 21.4% 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 Chico?
Chico has a Regional Price Parity of 101.2 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median occupational therapists salary is worth about $127,727 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.