Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in Virginia make a median of $100,710 a year, or about $48.42 an hour. The range runs from $70K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $106,245 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 25.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in Virginia?
About occupational therapists
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What this looks like in Virginia
Occupational therapists pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 0% difference. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $70K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in Virginia
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester | $107K | +6% | 140 |
| Richmond | $106K | +5% | 740 |
| Lynchburg | $103K | +2% | 130 |
| Charlottesville | $101K | +0% | 140 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $99K | -1% | 830 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $99K | -2% | 50 |
| Harrisonburg | $99K | -2% | 50 |
| Roanoke | $98K | -3% | 180 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $86K | -14% | 80 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 26.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $70K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,212/month. At HUD’s $1,646/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
Virginia pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $106K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in Virginia?
The median is $100,710 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,200, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $134,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,163/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 26.7% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $106,245 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.