AL · Hoover · Updated October 15, 2026

Occupational Therapist jobs in Hoover, AL

Occupational Therapists in the Hoover area earn a median of $48.39 per hour, about $100,640 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $39.16 and $52.41. That ranks 78th of 354 U.S. metro areas for occupational therapist pay, and 47th of 327 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 9 hospitals in the Hoover metro area. The free report below lists employers near Hoover and what they pay.

Occupational Therapist pay in Hoover, AL

The metro median is 5% above the Alabama statewide median of $45.87 per hour. Nationally the median is $47.28 per hour. BLS counts about 530 occupational therapists employed in the Birmingham metro area, 1.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.03).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$35.93$74,73024% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$39.16$81,45017% below U.S. median
Median$48.39$100,6402% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$52.41$109,01011% above U.S. median
Top 10%$59.13$122,99025% above U.S. median

How Hoover ranks

  • 78th of 354 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 47th of 327 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st of 7 Alabama metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Occupational Therapists (SOC 29-1122), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Hoover

  • Overall prices in Birmingham run 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 28% below the U.S. average (index 71.9).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $48.39 median hour buys what $52.80 buys at the national price level, 12% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

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Named employers near Hoover, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Hoover paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,742
  • Per year: $87,102
  • Per month: $7,258

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Birmingham metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Hoover

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$126
Meals and incidentals per day$80
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,442
13-week assignment$18,746

Travel occupational therapist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Occupational Therapist roles in Alabama

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Hoover as they open.

PermanentPosted 13 days ago

Occupational Therapist

North Mississippi Health Services · Hamilton, AL

$65k–$98k/ year
  • Full time
  • Req JR100449
View role

All Occupational Therapist jobs in Alabama

Hospitals in the Birmingham area

CMS lists 9 hospitals in the Birmingham area, 1 of the 7 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of occupational therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Birmingham Va Medical Center
Birmingham, AL
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital
Birmingham, AL
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Grandview Medical Center
Birmingham, AL
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Princeton Baptist Medical Center
Birmingham, AL
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
St Vincent's Birmingham
Birmingham, AL
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
St. Vincent's East
Birmingham, AL
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
University Of Alabama Hospital
Birmingham, AL
Acute careGovernment and federal2 of 5Yes
The Children's Hospital Of Alabama
Birmingham, AL
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes
Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services
Birmingham, AL
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Occupational Therapist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Birmingham, AL11 mi$48.39/hr196,357
Tuscaloosa, AL43 mi$46.41/hr114,288
Montgomery, AL78 mi$46.33/hr195,818
Decatur, AL83 mi$45.87/hr57,974
Huntsville, AL92 mi$44.81/hr230,402
Madison, AL92 mi$44.81/hr64,029

Occupational Therapist jobs in Alabama · Occupational Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Alabama

Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Alabama requires for your role with the Alabama licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Alabama taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Alabama state guide

Other healthcare roles in Hoover

Hoover city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do occupational therapists make in Hoover, AL?

Occupational Therapists in the Birmingham metro area have a median pay of $48.39 per hour, about $100,640 a year. The middle half earn between $39.16 and $52.41 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Hoover a good place for occupational therapists once cost of living is counted?

Birmingham ranks 47th of 327 metro areas for occupational therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 78th of 354 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.

Where do occupational therapists work in Hoover?

CMS lists 9 hospitals in the Birmingham area, led by Birmingham Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Alabama license to work in Hoover as an occupational therapist?

Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Alabama requires for your role with the Alabama licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Hoover?

The federal per diem benchmark in Hoover is $126 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,442 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place occupational therapists in Hoover?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Hoover and across Alabama. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Hoover.

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What do employers near Hoover pay occupational therapists? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · OT near Hoover, AL
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your OT pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Alabama list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • AmedisysVenice, FL · 5 postings$78.48/ hr$52–$89
  • Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 4 postings$67.73/ hr$54–$83
  • CommonSpirit HealthNORTHRIDGE, CA · 9 postings$64.73/ hr$48–$81
  • Kaweah Delta Health Care DistrictVisalia, CA · 5 postings$62.80/ hr$50–$75

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Alabama list

2What they are offering now

Low$35Median$48.37High$65

328 OT postings with published pay in the US, 261 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 2 OT roles

  1. Occupational TherapistPer diem
    $50.00–$62.00/ hour
    Amedisys · Montgomery, AL · posted 10 days ago
  2. Occupational TherapistPermanent
    $65k–$98k/ year
    North Mississippi Health Services · Hamilton, AL · posted 13 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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