Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Massachusetts make a median of $100,930 a year, or about $48.53 an hour. The range runs from $73K at the entry level to $127K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $100,839 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 36.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in Massachusetts?
About occupational therapists
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Occupational therapists pay in Massachusetts tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 37.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $73K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $127K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in Massachusetts
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable Town | $103K | +2% | 170 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $102K | +1% | 4,790 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $100K | -1% | 90 |
| Worcester | $98K | -3% | 790 |
| Springfield | $96K | -4% | 390 |
| Pittsfield | $96K | -5% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 37.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $73K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,388/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Massachusetts?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Massachusetts pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $101K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Massachusetts?
The median is $100,930 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,140, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $127,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,195/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 37.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a occupational therapists salary go in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median occupational therapists salary is worth about $100,839 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.