Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Michigan make a median of $89,910 a year, or about $43.23 an hour. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $95,761 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 22.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $90K get you in Michigan?
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What this looks like in Michigan
Occupational therapists pay in Michigan 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 $1,272/month, 22.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Michigan
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $90K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in Michigan
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Creek | $102K | +14% | 110 |
| Saginaw | $96K | +7% | 90 |
| Ann Arbor | $96K | +7% | 280 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $94K | +5% | 990 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $90K | -0% | 2,030 |
| Niles | $88K | -2% | 50 |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $87K | -4% | 150 |
| Flint | $86K | -5% | 160 |
| Monroe | $85K | -6% | 40 |
| Traverse City | $84K | -6% | 120 |
| Jackson | $84K | -7% | 60 |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $82K | -9% | 120 |
| Bay City | $81K | -10% | 80 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores | $78K | -13% | 100 |
| Midland | $75K | -17% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
Yes — at the median salary of $90K, rent takes 22.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,995/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Michigan?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $90K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Michigan pays $90K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Michigan?
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 $66,580, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $105,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $90K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,651/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 22.5% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $95,761 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.