Per diemPosted 10 days ago
Occupational Therapist
CommonSpirit Health · Santa Cruz, CA
$68.56–$79.51/ hour
Top 25% pay
Occupational Therapist jobs in Santa Cruz, CA
Pay for occupational therapists in the Santa Cruz area centers on $64.35 per hour, or about $133,850 a year. The lower quarter earns under $51.76 and the upper quarter over $72.95. The CMS hospital directory lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz. That ranks 2nd of 354 U.S. metro areas for occupational therapist pay, and 3rd of 327 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Santa Cruz and what they pay.
- $64.35median pay per hour, Santa Cruz
- $52–$73typical range per hour
- 80occupational therapists employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Occupational Therapist roles in Santa Cruz
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55+ more Occupational Therapist roles for you in Santa Cruz, CA
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Named employers near Santa Cruz, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportOccupational Therapist pay in Santa Cruz, CA
The metro median is 12% above the California statewide median of $57.44 per hour. Nationally the median is $47.28 per hour. BLS counts about 80 occupational therapists employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.78).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $47.93 | $99,690 | 1% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $51.76 | $107,660 | 9% above U.S. median |
| Median | $64.35 | $133,850 | 36% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $72.95 | $151,740 | 54% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $72.95 | $151,740 | 54% above U.S. median |
How Santa Cruz ranks
- 2nd of 354 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 3rd of 327 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd 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 Santa Cruz
- Overall prices in Santa Cruz-Watsonville run 10% above the U.S. average (index 109.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 64% above the U.S. average (index 164.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $64.35 median hour buys what $58.56 buys at the national price level, 24% 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 Santa Cruz paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$2,317
- Per year: $115,830
- Per month: $9,652
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Cruz
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $148 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,638 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,294 |
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 Santa Cruz
CMS lists 3 hospitals in Santa Cruz, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of occupational therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center Of Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
| Santa Cruz County Psychiatric Health Facility Santa Cruz, CA | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville, CA | 15 mi | $64.35/hr | 51,320 |
| Cupertino, CA | 24 mi | $64.77/hr | 58,710 |
| Gilroy, CA | 25 mi | $64.77/hr | 60,390 |
| San Jose, CA | 25 mi | $64.77/hr | 997,368 |
| Santa Clara, CA | 27 mi | $64.77/hr | 133,132 |
| Sunnyvale, CA | 28 mi | $64.77/hr | 156,792 |
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 Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do occupational therapists make in Santa Cruz, CA?
Occupational Therapists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville metro area have a median pay of $64.35 per hour, about $133,850 a year. The middle half earn between $51.76 and $72.95 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Cruz a good place for occupational therapists once cost of living is counted?
Santa Cruz-Watsonville ranks 3rd of 327 metro areas for occupational therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 2nd of 354 before adjusting. Overall prices run 10% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring occupational therapists in Santa Cruz?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Santa Cruz. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Santa Cruz.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Cruz is $148 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,638 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place occupational therapists in Santa Cruz?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Cruz and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Cruz.
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What do employers near Santa Cruz 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.
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230+ Occupational Therapist roles in California, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your OT pay reportSanta Cruz, 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.