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:
So what does $89K get you in Montana?
About occupational therapists
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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.
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Frequently asked questions
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 $4,567/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 25% 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.