Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Iowa make a median of $89,910 a year, or about $43.22 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $109K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $101,182 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 18.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $90K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Occupational therapists pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $90K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 19.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Iowa
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $90K. Top earners bring in $109K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $98K | +9% | 80 |
| Dubuque | $94K | +5% | 30 |
| Sioux City | $93K | +3% | 50 |
| Iowa City | $92K | +2% | 100 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $87K | -3% | 170 |
| Cedar Rapids | $80K | -11% | 110 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $79K | -12% | 340 |
| Ames | $74K | -18% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $90K, rent takes 19.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,877/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $90K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Iowa pays $90K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $101K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Iowa?
The median is $89,910 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,610, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $109,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $90K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,578/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 19.1% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $101,182 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.