Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL make a median of $95,070 a year, or about $45.71 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $111K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.14), that's roughly $97,869 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,497/month, or 23.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $95K get you in Lakeland-Winter Haven?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lakeland-Winter Haven’s Regional Price Parity (97.14). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Lakeland-Winter Haven
Occupational therapists pay in Lakeland-Winter Haven tracks closely to the national median, $95K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,497/month, 23.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.14) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for occupational therapists in metros near Lakeland-Winter Haven, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $101K | $89K |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $98K | $97K |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $100K | $98K |
| Jacksonville | $99K | $100K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $95K. Top earners bring in $111K or more, a $49K 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
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lakeland-Winter Haven numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lakeland-Winter Haven?
Yes — at the median salary of $95K, rent takes 23.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,497/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Lakeland-Winter Haven?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,739/month. At HUD’s $1,497/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $95K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Lakeland-Winter Haven compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Lakeland-Winter Haven pays $95K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL?
The median is $95,070 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,320, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $111,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $95K enough to live in Lakeland-Winter Haven?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,272/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,497/month, which eats 23.9% 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 Lakeland-Winter Haven?
Lakeland-Winter Haven has a Regional Price Parity of 97.14 (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 $97,869 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.