Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in New York make a median of $96,390 a year, or about $46.34 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $134K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $98,147 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,917/month, about 31.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $96K get you in New York?
About occupational therapists
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What this looks like in New York
Occupational therapists pay in New York tracks closely to the national median, $96K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,917/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $134K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in New York
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ithaca | $103K | +7% | 60 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $101K | +5% | 11,640 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $98K | +1% | 410 |
| Kingston | $95K | -1% | 70 |
| Glens Falls | $95K | -1% | 60 |
| Watertown-Fort Drum | $90K | -7% | 80 |
| Binghamton | $86K | -10% | 180 |
| Syracuse | $86K | -11% | 470 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $86K | -11% | 550 |
| Utica-Rome | $86K | -11% | 240 |
| Elmira | $83K | -14% | 40 |
| Rochester | $82K | -15% | 740 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $82K | -15% | 970 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 32.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,886/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 New York?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $96K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does New York compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
New York pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $98K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in New York?
The median is $96,390 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,770, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $133,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,955/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 32.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a occupational therapists salary go in New York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (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 $98,147 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.