Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in New Mexico make a median of $99,170 a year, or about $47.68 an hour. The range runs from $69K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $106,566 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 17.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $99K actually covers in New Mexico, month by month
About occupational therapists
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Occupational therapists pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $99K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 18.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, New Mexico
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $69K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in New Mexico
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe | $112K | +13% | 50 |
| Las Cruces | $109K | +10% | 130 |
| Albuquerque | $99K | +0% | 550 |
| Farmington | $94K | -6% | 50 |
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Track occupational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 18.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $69K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,558/month. At HUD’s $1,119/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $99K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
New Mexico pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in New Mexico?
The median is $99,170 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $69,230, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $133,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,191/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 18.1% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $106,566 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.