Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Nebraska make a median of $93,740 a year, or about $45.07 an hour. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $108K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $104,098 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,113/month, or 18.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nebraska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $94K get you in Nebraska?
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What this looks like in Nebraska
Occupational therapists pay in Nebraska tracks closely to the national median, $94K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,113/month, 19.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Nebraska
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $94K. Top earners bring in $108K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in Nebraska
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln | $96K | +3% | 250 |
| Omaha | $94K | -0% | 820 |
| Grand Island | $87K | -7% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nebraska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
Yes — at the median salary of $94K, rent takes 19.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,222/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in Nebraska?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $94K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Nebraska pays $94K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Nebraska?
The median is $93,740 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,370, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $107,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $94K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,832/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 19.1% 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 $104,098 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.