PermanentPosted 7 days ago
Occupational Therapist
Select Medical · Kansas City, MO
$75k–$85k/ year
New this week
Occupational Therapist jobs in Independence, MO
Occupational Therapists in the Independence area earn a median of $47.01 per hour, about $97,790 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $38.53 and $50.87. That ranks 123rd of 354 U.S. metro areas for occupational therapist pay, and 94th of 327 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Independence and its metro area. The free report below lists employers near Independence and what they pay.
- $47.01median pay per hour, Kansas City
- $39–$51typical range per hour
- 1,360occupational therapists employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Occupational Therapist roles near Independence
Roles in other cities of the Kansas City area.
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15+ more Occupational Therapist roles for you in Independence, MO
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Named employers near Independence, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportOccupational Therapist pay in Independence, MO
The metro median is 4% above the Missouri statewide median of $45.00 per hour. Nationally the median is $47.28 per hour. BLS counts about 1,360 occupational therapists employed in the Kansas City metro area, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.26).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $31.45 | $65,420 | 33% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $38.53 | $80,140 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Median | $47.01 | $97,790 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $50.87 | $105,810 | 8% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $56.07 | $116,630 | 19% above U.S. median |
How Independence ranks
- 123rd of 354 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 94th of 327 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st of 8 Missouri 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 Independence
- Overall prices in Kansas City run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.5, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 13% below the U.S. average (index 86.6).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $47.01 median hour buys what $50.80 buys at the national price level, 7% 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 Independence paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,692
- Per year: $84,618
- Per month: $7,052
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Kansas City metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Independence
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $135 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,505 |
| 13-week assignment | $19,565 |
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 Independence
CMS lists 1 hospital in Independence, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of occupational therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centerpoint Medical Center Independence, MO | Acute care | For-profit | 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Springs, MO | 7 mi | $47.01/hr | 61,246 |
| Kansas City, MO | 11 mi | $47.01/hr | 516,032 |
| Lawrence, KS | 50 mi | $47.41/hr | 97,271 |
| St. Joseph, MO | 53 mi | $45.83/hr | 71,098 |
| Topeka, KS | 72 mi | $46.72/hr | 125,467 |
| Columbia, MO | 109 mi | $44.59/hr | 130,900 |
Occupational Therapist jobs in Missouri · Occupational Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Missouri
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Missouri requires for your role with the Missouri licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Missouri taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Independence
Independence city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do occupational therapists make in Independence, MO?
Occupational Therapists in the Kansas City metro area have a median pay of $47.01 per hour, about $97,790 a year. The middle half earn between $38.53 and $50.87 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Independence a good place for occupational therapists once cost of living is counted?
Kansas City ranks 94th of 327 metro areas for occupational therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 123rd of 354 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring occupational therapists in Independence?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the Kansas City area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Independence.
Do I need a Missouri license to work in Independence as an occupational therapist?
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Missouri requires for your role with the Missouri 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 Independence?
The federal per diem benchmark in Independence is $135 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,505 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place occupational therapists in Independence?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Independence and across Missouri. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Independence.
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What do employers near Independence 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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50+ Occupational Therapist roles in Missouri, 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 reportIndependence, MO · employer-reported wage offers in federal filings, July 2025 – June 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- School District of Kansas City 33Kansas City, MO · 1 wage offer$31.43/ hr$31–$31
- Grandison Management, Inc.Missouri · 2 wage offers$27.34/ hr$25–$30
- Grandison Management, Inc.Perryville, MO · 1 wage offer$24.91/ hr$25–$25
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$25Median$27.34High$31
4 employer-reported wage offers for OT in federal filings in Missouri, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 2 OT roles
- Occupational Therapist (Holistic Health and Fitness)Permanent$90k–$116k/ year
- Occupational TherapistPermanent$75k–$85k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.