Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Texas make a median of $106,140 a year, or about $51.03 an hour. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $116,013 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 19.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $106K get you in Texas?
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What this looks like in Texas
Occupational therapists pay in Texas tracks closely to the national median, $106K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,415/month, 20.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (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, Texas
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $106K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in Texas
25 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $122K | +15% | 1,600 |
| Longview | $113K | +6% | 130 |
| Odessa | $109K | +3% | 40 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $108K | +1% | 1,780 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $106K | -0% | 3,450 |
| Texarkana | $106K | -0% | 70 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $106K | -0% | 120 |
| Midland | $106K | -0% | 70 |
| Abilene | $105K | -1% | 90 |
| Corpus Christi | $104K | -2% | 160 |
| Victoria | $104K | -2% | 100 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $104K | -2% | 2,700 |
| Amarillo | $102K | -4% | 130 |
| Wichita Falls | $102K | -4% | 70 |
| El Paso | $102K | -4% | 320 |
| Waco | $102K | -4% | 130 |
| Tyler | $101K | -5% | 160 |
| Sherman-Denison | $101K | -5% | 80 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $101K | -5% | 340 |
| San Angelo | $100K | -6% | 50 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $99K | -6% | 140 |
| College Station-Bryan | $98K | -8% | 120 |
| Killeen-Temple | $97K | -9% | 200 |
| Laredo | $97K | -9% | 70 |
| Lubbock | $97K | -9% | 190 |
Showing 1–10 of 25 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
Yes — at the median salary of $106K, rent takes 20.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,581/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Texas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $106K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Texas compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Texas pays $106K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $116K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Texas?
The median is $106,140 a year, that works out to about $51 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,350, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $135,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $106K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,921/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 20.4% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $116,013 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.