Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Illinois make a median of $99,700 a year, or about $47.93 an hour. The range runs from $73K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $106,233 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $100K get you in Illinois?
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What this looks like in Illinois
Occupational therapists pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $100K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 22.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Illinois
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $73K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in Illinois
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield | $103K | +3% | 100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $100K | +0% | 5,960 |
| Peoria | $97K | -3% | 190 |
| Rockford | $97K | -3% | 130 |
| Bloomington | $90K | -10% | 80 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $80K | -20% | 120 |
| Kankakee | $80K | -20% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 22.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $73K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,402/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $100K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Illinois pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $106K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Illinois?
The median is $99,700 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,360, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $132,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,133/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 22.9% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $106,233 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.