Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Decatur, AL make a median of $97,460 a year, or about $46.85 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers.
So what does $97K get you in Decatur?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Decatur’s Regional Price Parity (87.2). 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 Decatur
Occupational therapists pay in Decatur tracks closely to the national median, $97K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $961/month, 16% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.2 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for occupational therapists in metros near Decatur, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $95K | , |
| Huntsville | $94K | , |
| Mobile | $91K | , |
| Montgomery | $94K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Decatur, AL
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $60K 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 |
| Kansas | $99K | -1% | 1,560 |
| New Mexico | $99K | -1% | 1,030 |
| 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 |
| Michigan | $90K | -10% | 5,120 |
| Iowa | $90K | -10% | 1,290 |
| 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 states
Track occupational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Decatur numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Decatur?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 16% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $961/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Decatur?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,797/month. At HUD’s $961/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in Decatur?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $97K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Decatur compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Decatur pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Decatur, AL?
The median is $97,460 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,290, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $123,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Decatur?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,020/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $961/month, which eats 16% 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 Decatur?
Decatur has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median occupational therapists salary is worth about $111,766 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.