Salaries › Occupational Therapist › California
Occupational Therapist Salary in California (2026)
$59.86 per hour · take-home ≈ $88,866/year ($7,405/month) for a single filer
California is the highest-paying state in the country for Occupational Therapists, with a median about 23% above the national average. Of the 13,810 Occupational Therapist jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $124,510 a year — though pay ranges from $85,550 for newcomers to $158,560 at the top.
Occupational Therapist pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $85,550 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $103,950 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $124,510 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $136,380 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $158,560 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 13,810 Occupational Therapist jobs in California (occupation code 29-1122, “Occupational Therapists”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Occupational Therapist salary of $124,510 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $88,866 — an effective tax rate of 28.6%.
| Gross (median) | $124,510 |
| Federal income tax | −$18,616 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$9,525 |
| California state income tax | −$7,503 |
| Take-home (annual) | $88,866 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $7,405 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Occupational Therapist make in California?
- The median Occupational Therapist salary in California is $124,510 per year ($59.86 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $103,950 and $136,380.
- What is the take-home pay for a Occupational Therapist in California?
- On the median salary of $124,510, a single filer in California takes home about $88,866 per year ($7,405 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 28.6%.
- How many Occupational Therapist jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 13,810 Occupational Therapist jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Occupational Therapists
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.