Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN make a median of $82,560 a year, or about $39.69 an hour. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.77), which stretches that salary to about $89,964 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,166/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $83K get you in La Crosse-Onalaska?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by La Crosse-Onalaska’s Regional Price Parity (91.77). 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 La Crosse-Onalaska
Pay for occupational therapists in La Crosse-Onalaska runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $100K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,166/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.77 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, La Crosse-Onalaska can be a reasonable trade-off for occupational therapistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for occupational therapists in metros near La Crosse-Onalaska, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $94K | $97K |
| Madison | $96K | $98K |
| Green Bay | $89K | $95K |
| Appleton | $90K | $98K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $32K 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 |
| New Mexico | $99K | -1% | 1,030 |
| Kansas | $99K | -1% | 1,560 |
| 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 |
| Iowa | $90K | -10% | 1,290 |
| Michigan | $90K | -10% | 5,120 |
| 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 (all 50 states + DC)
Track occupational therapists salary changes
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Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in La Crosse-Onalaska?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 22.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,166/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in La Crosse-Onalaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,241/month. At HUD’s $1,166/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in La Crosse-Onalaska?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $83K here vs. $100K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does La Crosse-Onalaska compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
La Crosse-Onalaska pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The median is $82,560 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,680, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $102,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in La Crosse-Onalaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,262/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,166/month, which eats 22.2% 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 La Crosse-Onalaska?
La Crosse-Onalaska has a Regional Price Parity of 91.77 (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 $89,964 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.