Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Ohio make a median of $99,390 a year, or about $47.78 an hour. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $108,682 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 18.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $99K get you in Ohio?
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What this looks like in Ohio
Occupational therapists pay in Ohio 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 $1,188/month, 18.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in Ohio
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $104K | +4% | 530 |
| Cleveland | $103K | +4% | 1,200 |
| Cincinnati | $101K | +1% | 1,360 |
| Toledo | $100K | +1% | 380 |
| Columbus | $99K | -0% | 1,370 |
| Akron | $99K | -1% | 430 |
| Canton-Massillon | $98K | -1% | 290 |
| Springfield | $94K | -5% | 40 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $92K | -7% | 240 |
| Sandusky | $91K | -9% | 40 |
| Lima | $85K | -15% | 80 |
| Mansfield | $78K | -21% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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Track occupational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 18.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,205/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $99K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Ohio pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Ohio?
The median is $99,390 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,080, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $123,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,354/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 18.7% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $108,682 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.