Occupational Therapists Salary
Occupational Therapists in West Virginia make a median of $96,190 a year, or about $46.25 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $129K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $108,042 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 16.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $96K actually covers in West Virginia, month by month
About occupational therapists
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Occupational therapists pay in West Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $96K locally vs. $100K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 16.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, West Virginia
Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $96K. Top earners bring in $129K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapists salary by metro in West Virginia
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling | $101K | +5% | 70 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $99K | +3% | 140 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna | $96K | -0% | 40 |
| Morgantown | $94K | -2% | 80 |
| Beckley | $94K | -2% | 30 |
| Weirton-Steubenville | $93K | -4% | 60 |
| Charleston | $92K | -5% | 80 |
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a occupational therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $96K, rent takes 16.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapists in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapists typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,060/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is occupational therapist a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $96K locally vs. $100K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for occupational therapists?
West Virginia pays $96K median vs. the U.S. average of $100K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapists make in West Virginia?
The median is $96,190 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,870, and experienced occupational therapists can clear $129,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $96K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,002/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 16.8% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $108,042 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.