Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Tennessee make a median of $97,700 a year, or about $46.97 an hour. The range runs from $69K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $108,822 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 18.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $98K get you in Tennessee?
About occupational therapists
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Occupational therapists pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $98K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 18.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (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, Tennessee
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $69K. Mid-career wages sit at $98K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in Tennessee
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $101K | +3% | 710 |
| Memphis | $100K | +2% | 420 |
| Clarksville | $97K | -0% | 90 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $97K | -1% | 120 |
| Chattanooga | $96K | -2% | 290 |
| Johnson City | $95K | -3% | 90 |
| Knoxville | $94K | -3% | 290 |
| Morristown | $93K | -5% | 40 |
| Jackson | $87K | -11% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $98K, rent takes 18.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $69K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,111/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $98K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Tennessee pays $98K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Tennessee?
The median is $97,700 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $68,520, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $119,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $98K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,427/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 18.9% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $108,822 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.