Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in South Carolina make a median of $101,130 a year, or about $48.62 an hour. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $108,544 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 19.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $101K actually covers in South Carolina, month by month
About occupational therapists
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Occupational therapists pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 20.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (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, South Carolina
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in South Carolina
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg | $112K | +10% | 210 |
| Columbia | $103K | +2% | 280 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $102K | +1% | 400 |
| Florence | $102K | +0% | 80 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $101K | -0% | 70 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $101K | -0% | 100 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $99K | -3% | 320 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when South Carolina 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 South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 20.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,851/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
South Carolina pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in South Carolina?
The median is $101,130 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,370, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $123,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,224/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $108,544 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.