Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Kentucky make a median of $97,650 a year, or about $46.95 an hour. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $108,223 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 18% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $98K actually covers in Kentucky, month by month
About occupational therapists
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Occupational therapists pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $98K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 18.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Kentucky
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in Kentucky
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $100K | +2% | 710 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $96K | -2% | 320 |
| Owensboro | $96K | -2% | 60 |
| Elizabethtown | $96K | -2% | 40 |
| Paducah | $94K | -3% | 50 |
| Bowling Green | $84K | -14% | 140 |
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 18.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,626/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $98K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Kentucky pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Kentucky?
The median is $97,650 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,030, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $119,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,098/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 18.2% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $108,223 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.