Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Florida make a median of $99,360 a year, or about $47.77 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $100,791 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,658/month, or 24.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $99K get you in Florida?
About occupational therapists
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What this looks like in Florida
Occupational therapists pay in Florida tracks closely to the national median, $99K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,658/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in Florida
22 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island | $108K | +8% | 170 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $104K | +5% | 730 |
| Homosassa Springs | $104K | +4% | 100 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $101K | +2% | 2,550 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $101K | +1% | 330 |
| Punta Gorda | $100K | +1% | 80 |
| Port St. Lucie | $100K | +1% | 370 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $100K | +0% | 1,160 |
| Jacksonville | $99K | -0% | 890 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $99K | -0% | 70 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $99K | -1% | 140 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $98K | -1% | 260 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $98K | -1% | 230 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $98K | -2% | 1,660 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $97K | -2% | 260 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $97K | -2% | 90 |
| Gainesville | $97K | -2% | 340 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | $96K | -3% | 80 |
| Sebring | $96K | -3% | 60 |
| Tallahassee | $96K | -4% | 190 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $95K | -4% | 200 |
| Ocala | $95K | -5% | 150 |
Showing 1–10 of 22 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 25.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,974/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Florida?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $99K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Florida compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Florida pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $101K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Florida?
The median is $99,360 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,230, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $117,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,524/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 25.4% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $100,791 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.