Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Montana make a median of $88,990 a year, or about $42.79 an hour. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $111K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $91,742 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 20.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $89K actually covers in Montana, month by month
About occupational therapists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Montana
Pay for occupational therapists in Montana runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $100K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 20.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Montana can be a reasonable trade-off for occupational therapistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $89K. Top earners bring in $111K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in Montana
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $95K | +7% | 50 |
| Missoula | $87K | -2% | 40 |
| Billings | $85K | -4% | 130 |
| Great Falls | $80K | -10% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $89K, rent takes 20.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,879/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $89K here vs. $100K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Montana pays $89K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $92K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Montana?
The median is $88,990 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,110, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $110,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $89K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,571/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 20.3% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 97 (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 $91,742 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.