PermanentPosted today
Occupational Therapist
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation · National City, CA
$54.00–$54.00/ hour
New this week
Occupational Therapist jobs in Santee, CA
Occupational Therapists in the Santee area earn a median of $53.87 per hour, about $112,050 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $48.63 and $62.77. That ranks 15th of 354 U.S. metro areas for occupational therapist pay, and 145th of 327 once local prices are factored in. 7 open roles with published pay are listed for Santee and its metro area. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Santee.
- $53.87median pay per hour, San Diego
- $49–$63typical range per hour
- 1,260occupational therapists employed in the metro area
- 7open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Occupational Therapist roles near Santee
Roles in other cities of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area.
Per diemPosted 3 days ago
Occupational Therapist I - Per Diem - San Diego County Float
Sharp HealthCare · San Diego, CA
$52.36–$67.57/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
75+ more Occupational Therapist roles for you in Santee, CA
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 9 days ago
Occupational Therapist (Outpatient) - Occupational Therapy
Rady Children's Hospital · San Diego, CA
$45.75–$62.09/ hour
PermanentPosted 21 days ago
Occupational Therapist / OT
BrightSpring Health Services · Escondido, CA
$60.00–$65.00/ hour
PermanentPosted 21 days ago
Occupational Therapist - OT
BrightSpring Health Services · San Diego, CA
$60.00–$65.00/ hour
Per diemPosted 29 days ago
Occupational Therapist I - Per Diem - San Diego County Float
Sharp Healthcare · San Diego, CA
$52.36–$67.57/ hour
PermanentPosted 29 days ago
Occupational Therapist
Palomar Health · Escondido, CA
$47.58–$71.46/ hour
Get the Santee Occupational Therapist pay report
Named employers near Santee, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring occupational therapists near Santee
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| BrightSpring Health Services | 2 | $62.50 |
| Central Maine Healthcare Corporation | 1 | $54 |
| Sharp HealthCare | 1 | $59.96 |
| Rady Children's Hospital | 1 | $53.92 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 1 | $59.96 |
| Palomar Health | 1 | $59.52 |
Occupational Therapist pay in Santee, CA
The metro median is 6% below the California statewide median of $57.44 per hour. Nationally the median is $47.28 per hour. BLS counts about 1,260 occupational therapists employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.84).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $40.89 | $85,050 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $48.63 | $101,150 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Median | $53.87 | $112,050 | 14% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $62.77 | $130,560 | 33% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $70.04 | $145,680 | 48% above U.S. median |
How Santee ranks
- 15th of 354 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 145th of 327 after adjusting for local prices
- 15th 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 Santee
- Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $53.87 median hour buys what $48.15 buys at the national price level, 2% 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 Santee paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,939
- Per year: $96,966
- Per month: $8,080
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santee
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $205 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $86 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,037 |
| 13-week assignment | $26,481 |
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area
CMS lists 18 hospitals in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area, 10 of the 13 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of occupational therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Va San Diego Healthcare System San Diego, CA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Grossmont Hospital La Mesa, CA | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos San Marcos, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas Encinitas, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center Chula Vista, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Coronado Hospital And Hlthcr Ctr Coronado, CA | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Sharp Memorial Hospital San Diego, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Cajon, CA | 4 mi | $53.87/hr | 103,291 |
| La Mesa, CA | 6 mi | $53.87/hr | 60,767 |
| Temecula, CA | 45 mi | $52.41/hr | 112,431 |
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 Santee
Santee city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do occupational therapists make in Santee, CA?
Occupational Therapists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $53.87 per hour, about $112,050 a year. The middle half earn between $48.63 and $62.77 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santee a good place for occupational therapists once cost of living is counted?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 145th of 327 metro areas for occupational therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 15th of 354 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring occupational therapists in Santee?
We list 7 open roles with published pay from 6 employers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Santee.
Do I need a California license to work in Santee 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 Santee?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santee is $205 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,037 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place occupational therapists in Santee?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santee and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santee.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Santee 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 reportSantee, 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.