PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Occupational Therapist - OT
BrightSpring Health Services · Burbank, CA
$60.00–$65.00/ hour
Occupational Therapist jobs in Lake Forest, CA
Occupational Therapists in the Lake Forest area earn a median of $55.47 per hour, about $115,380 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $48.00 and $62.49. That ranks 13th of 354 U.S. metro areas for occupational therapist pay, and 134th of 327 once local prices are factored in. 6 open roles with published pay are listed for Lake Forest and its metro area. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Lake Forest.
- $55.47median pay per hour, Los Angeles
- $48–$62typical range per hour
- 4,500occupational therapists employed in the metro area
- 6open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Occupational Therapist roles near Lake Forest
Roles in other cities of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area.
PermanentPosted 21 days ago
Occupational Therapist / OT
BrightSpring Health Services · Glendale, CA
$60.00–$65.00/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
90+ more Occupational Therapist roles for you in Lake Forest, CA
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Per diemPosted 24 days ago
Occupational Therapist (OT), PRN
LifePoint Health · Westminster, CA
$38.40–$65.00/ hour
Per diemPosted 27 days ago
Occupational Therapist (OT), PRN
LifePoint Health · Glendale, CA
$38.40–$65.00/ hour
PermanentPosted 29 days ago
Occupational Therapist
Shriners Hospitals for Children · Pasadena, CA
$46.14–$69.22/ hour
PermanentPosted 30 days ago
Occupational Therapist (OT)
LifePoint Health · Gardena, CA
$36.36–$64.00/ hour
Get the Lake Forest Occupational Therapist pay report
Named employers near Lake Forest, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring occupational therapists near Lake Forest
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| LifePoint Health | 3 | $51.70 |
| BrightSpring Health Services | 2 | $62.50 |
| Shriners Hospitals for Children | 1 | $57.68 |
Occupational Therapist pay in Lake Forest, CA
The metro median is 3% below the California statewide median of $57.44 per hour. Nationally the median is $47.28 per hour. BLS counts about 4,500 occupational therapists employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.73).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $37.85 | $78,730 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $48.00 | $99,840 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Median | $55.47 | $115,380 | 17% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $62.49 | $129,980 | 32% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $72.05 | $149,860 | 52% above U.S. median |
How Lake Forest ranks
- 13th of 354 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 134th of 327 after adjusting for local prices
- 13th of 22 California 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 Lake Forest
- Overall prices in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim run 14% above the U.S. average (index 113.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 70% above the U.S. average (index 170.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $55.47 median hour buys what $48.84 buys at the national price level, 3% 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.
Estimate your Lake Forest paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,997
- Per year: $99,846
- Per month: $8,320
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Lake Forest
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $191 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,939 |
| 13-week assignment | $25,207 |
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).
Hospitals in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area
CMS lists 85 hospitals in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area, 27 of the 66 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of occupational therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian Newport Beach, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | No |
| Keck Hospital Of Usc Los Angeles, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | No |
| Providence Little Company Of Mary Med Ctr Torrance Torrance, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | No |
| Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Santa Monica - Ucla Med Ctr & Orthopaedic Hospital Santa Monica, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| St Mary Medical Center Long Beach, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Torrance Memorial Medical Center Torrance, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Ahmc Anaheim Regional Medical Center Anaheim, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Occupational Therapist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mission Viejo, CA | 3 mi | $55.47/hr | 91,601 |
| Irvine, CA | 6 mi | $55.47/hr | 318,683 |
| Corona, CA | 16 mi | $52.41/hr | 161,540 |
Occupational Therapist jobs in California · Occupational Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in California
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Lake Forest
Lake Forest city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do occupational therapists make in Lake Forest, CA?
Occupational Therapists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area have a median pay of $55.47 per hour, about $115,380 a year. The middle half earn between $48.00 and $62.49 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Lake Forest a good place for occupational therapists once cost of living is counted?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim ranks 134th of 327 metro areas for occupational therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 13th of 354 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring occupational therapists in Lake Forest?
We list 6 open roles with published pay from 3 employers in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Lake Forest.
Do I need a California license to work in Lake Forest as an occupational therapist?
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California 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 Lake Forest?
The federal per diem benchmark in Lake Forest is $191 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,939 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place occupational therapists in Lake Forest?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Lake Forest and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Lake Forest.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Lake Forest pay occupational therapists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
230+ Occupational Therapist roles in California, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your OT pay reportLake Forest, CA · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- 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
- BrightSpring Health ServicesBURBANK, CA · 7 postings$62.50/ hr$60–$65
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$50Median$62.50High$75
38 OT postings with published pay in California, 35 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 38 OT roles
- Occupational TherapistPer diem$52.04–$77.42/ hour
- Occupational Therapist Home HealthPermanent$49.78–$74.05/ hour
+ 36 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.