Per diemPosted 16 days ago
Occupational Therapist
Genesis Healthcare · Chapel Hill, NC
Pay range with your report
Occupational Therapist jobs in Chapel Hill, NC
Occupational Therapists in the Chapel Hill area earn a median of $39.45 per hour, about $82,060 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $37.94 and $48.07. That ranks 305th of 354 U.S. metro areas for occupational therapist pay, and 311th of 327 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Chapel Hill. The free report below lists employers near Chapel Hill and what they pay.
- $39.45median pay per hour, Durham
- $38–$48typical range per hour
- 400occupational therapists employed in the metro area
- 98cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Occupational Therapist roles in Chapel Hill
1 more open role from employers in Chapel Hill. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
Occupational Therapist pay in Chapel Hill, NC
The metro median is 13% below the North Carolina statewide median of $45.47 per hour. Nationally the median is $47.28 per hour. BLS counts about 400 occupational therapists employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.20).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $31.27 | $65,040 | 34% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $37.94 | $78,920 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Median | $39.45 | $82,060 | 17% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $48.07 | $99,990 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $55.20 | $114,820 | 17% above U.S. median |
How Chapel Hill ranks
- 305th of 354 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 311th of 327 after adjusting for local prices
- 13th of 13 North Carolina 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.
Get the Chapel Hill Occupational Therapist pay report
Named employers near Chapel Hill, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in Chapel Hill
- Overall prices in Durham-Chapel Hill run 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.9).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $39.45 median hour buys what $40.43 buys at the national price level, 14% below 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 Chapel Hill paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,420
- Per year: $71,010
- Per month: $5,918
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Chapel Hill
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $140 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,540 |
| 13-week assignment | $20,020 |
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).
Open Occupational Therapist roles in North Carolina
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Chapel Hill as they open.
Per diemPosted today
Occupational Therapist / PRN
BrightSpring Health Services · Raleigh, NC
$53.00–$58.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Per diemPosted today
Occupational Therapist / PRN
BrightSpring Health Services · Rocky Mount, NC
$53.00–$58.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
110+ more Occupational Therapist roles for you in North Carolina
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 today
Occupational Therapist, Acute Care, Weekends
Advocate Health · North Carolina
$38.20–$57.30/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Occupational Therapist I
ECU Health · Washington, NC
$72k–$105k/ year
New this week
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Hand Occupational Therapist - Outpatient Rehab, Float
Advocate Health · Concord, NC
$49.00–$49.00/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Occupational Therapist - Acute Care, Atrium Health Pineville
Advocate Health · North Carolina
$35.50–$53.25/ hour
New this week
Hospitals in Chapel Hill
CMS lists 1 hospital in Chapel Hill, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unc Hospitals Chapel Hill, NC | Acute care | Government and federal | 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NC | 9 mi | $39.45/hr | 301,870 |
| Cary, NC | 16 mi | $44.60/hr | 182,659 |
| Apex, NC | 17 mi | $44.60/hr | 75,977 |
| Raleigh, NC | 23 mi | $44.60/hr | 499,825 |
| Burlington, NC | 26 mi | $40.56/hr | 61,365 |
| Wake Forest, NC | 30 mi | $44.60/hr | 56,764 |
Occupational Therapist jobs in North Carolina · Occupational Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in North Carolina
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what North Carolina requires for your role with the North Carolina licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
North Carolina taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do occupational therapists make in Chapel Hill, NC?
Occupational Therapists in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area have a median pay of $39.45 per hour, about $82,060 a year. The middle half earn between $37.94 and $48.07 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Chapel Hill a good place for occupational therapists once cost of living is counted?
Durham-Chapel Hill ranks 311th of 327 metro areas for occupational therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 305th of 354 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.
Where do occupational therapists work in Chapel Hill?
CMS lists 1 hospital in Chapel Hill, led by Unc Hospitals. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Chapel Hill as an occupational therapist?
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what North Carolina requires for your role with the North Carolina 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 Chapel Hill?
The federal per diem benchmark in Chapel Hill is $140 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,540 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place occupational therapists in Chapel Hill?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Chapel Hill and across North Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Chapel Hill.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Chapel Hill 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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110+ Occupational Therapist roles in North Carolina, 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 reportChapel Hill, NC · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- BrightSpring Health ServicesROCKY MOUNT, NC · 4 postings$55.50/ hr$53–$58
- AmedisysWinston Salem, NC · 2 postings$49.38/ hr$44–$56
- Advocate HealthConcord, NC · 6 postings$47.75/ hr$33–$57
- PruittHealth Therapy Services, Inc.Salisbury, NC · 2 wage offers$47.50/ hr$46–$49
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$37Median$47.75High$58
13 OT postings with published pay in North Carolina, 12 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 13 OT roles
- Occupational Therapist / PRNPer diem$53.00–$58.00/ hour
- Occupational Therapist / PRNPer diem$53.00–$58.00/ hour
+ 11 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.