IL · Champaign · Updated October 15, 2026

Occupational Therapist jobs in Champaign, IL

Occupational Therapists in the Champaign area earn a median of $46.41 per hour, about $96,530 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $37.04 and $46.41. That ranks 151st of 354 U.S. metro areas for occupational therapist pay, and 108th of 327 once local prices are factored in. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Champaign. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Champaign.

Open Occupational Therapist roles in Champaign

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Occupational Therapist pay in Champaign, IL

The metro median is 2% below the Illinois statewide median of $47.55 per hour. Nationally the median is $47.28 per hour. BLS counts about 120 occupational therapists employed in the Champaign-Urbana metro area, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.13).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$23.29$48,44051% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$37.04$77,04022% below U.S. median
Median$46.41$96,5302% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$46.41$96,5302% below U.S. median
Top 10%$48.66$101,2103% above U.S. median

How Champaign ranks

  • 151st of 354 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 108th of 327 after adjusting for local prices
  • 4th of 6 Illinois 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 Champaign

  • Overall prices in Champaign-Urbana run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.7, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 28% below the U.S. average (index 71.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $46.41 median hour buys what $50.06 buys at the national price level, 6% 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 Champaign paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,671
  • Per year: $83,538
  • Per month: $6,961

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

Travel assignment per diem in Champaign

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$110
Meals and incidentals per day$68
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,246
13-week assignment$16,198

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 (this is the standard rate that applies here). 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 Champaign

CMS lists 1 hospital in Champaign. Hospitals are a major employer of occupational therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
The Pavilion
Champaign, IL
PsychiatricNonprofitNot 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
Decatur, IL39 mi$47.55/hr68,763
Bloomington, IL44 mi$46.61/hr79,232
Normal, IL47 mi$46.61/hr53,304
Terre Haute, IN66 mi$45.12/hr58,531
Springfield, IL76 mi$42.41/hr112,949
Lafayette, IN77 mi$38.10/hr71,757

Occupational Therapist jobs in Illinois · Occupational Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Illinois

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

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

Illinois state guide

Other healthcare roles in Champaign

Champaign city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do occupational therapists make in Champaign, IL?

Occupational Therapists in the Champaign-Urbana metro area have a median pay of $46.41 per hour, about $96,530 a year. The middle half earn between $37.04 and $46.41 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Champaign-Urbana ranks 108th of 327 metro areas for occupational therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 151st of 354 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring occupational therapists in Champaign?

We list 2 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Champaign. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Champaign.

Do I need a Illinois license to work in Champaign as an occupational therapist?

Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Illinois requires for your role with the Illinois 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 Champaign?

The federal per diem benchmark in Champaign is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place occupational therapists in Champaign?

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

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

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

Your OT pay reportChampaign, IL · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • MercyIllinois · 7 postings$45.71/ hr$34–$60
  • Enhabit Home HealthBloomington, IL · 5 postings$44.47/ hr$26–$46
  • Hospital Sisters Health SystemSpringfield, IL · 6 postings$42.76/ hr$34–$54
  • OSF Healthcare SystemPekin, IL · 3 postings$42.58/ hr$39–$52

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$34Median$43.61High$55

34 OT postings with published pay in Illinois, 25 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 34 OT roles

  1. Occupational Therapist - PediatricsPermanent
    $35.00–$42.00/ hour
    Select Medical · Naperville, IL · posted today
  2. Occupational TherapistPermanent
    $70k–$82k/ year
    Select Medical · Saint Charles, IL · posted today

+ 32 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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