Per diemPosted 10 days ago
Occupational Therapist - Acute Care/General Practice (Casual) - Fargo
Essentia Health · Fargo, ND
$34.96–$52.44/ hour
Occupational Therapist jobs in Fargo, ND
Pay for occupational therapists in the Fargo area centers on $37.86 per hour, or about $78,760 a year. The lower quarter earns under $35.31 and the upper quarter over $46.63. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Fargo. That ranks 337th of 354 U.S. metro areas for occupational therapist pay, and 297th of 327 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Fargo.
- $37.86median pay per hour, Fargo
- $35–$47typical range per hour
- 210occupational therapists employed in the metro area
- 2open roles with published pay
Open Occupational Therapist roles in Fargo
Per diemPosted 10 days ago
Occupational Therapist - Acute Care (Casual) - Fargo
Essentia Health · Fargo, ND
$34.96–$52.44/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
15+ more Occupational Therapist roles for you in Fargo, ND
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Named employers near Fargo, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportOccupational Therapist pay in Fargo, ND
The metro median is 1% below the North Dakota statewide median of $38.42 per hour. Nationally the median is $47.28 per hour. BLS counts about 210 occupational therapists employed in the Fargo metro area, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.45).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $30.91 | $64,290 | 35% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $35.31 | $73,440 | 25% below U.S. median |
| Median | $37.86 | $78,760 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $46.63 | $96,990 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $49.16 | $102,250 | 4% above U.S. median |
How Fargo ranks
- 337th of 354 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 297th of 327 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd of 4 North Dakota 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 Fargo
- Overall prices in Fargo run 9% below the U.S. average (index 90.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 19% below the U.S. average (index 81.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $37.86 median hour buys what $41.66 buys at the national price level, 12% 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 Fargo paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,363
- Per year: $68,148
- Per month: $5,679
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Fargo metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Fargo
| Item | Federal 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 Fargo
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Fargo, 2 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of occupational therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo Va Medical Center Fargo, ND | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Sanford Medical Center Fargo Fargo, ND | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Essentia Health Fargo, ND | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Prairie St John's Fargo, ND | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks, ND | 74 mi | $37.46/hr | 59,845 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 157 mi | $40.59/hr | 72,145 |
| Bismarck, ND | 186 mi | $38.42/hr | 77,772 |
| Maple Grove, MN | 202 mi | $41.49/hr | 72,739 |
| Coon Rapids, MN | 205 mi | $41.49/hr | 63,807 |
| Plymouth, MN | 206 mi | $41.49/hr | 78,551 |
Occupational Therapist jobs in North Dakota · Occupational Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in North Dakota
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what North Dakota requires for your role with the North Dakota licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
North Dakota taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Fargo
Fargo city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do occupational therapists make in Fargo, ND?
Occupational Therapists in the Fargo metro area have a median pay of $37.86 per hour, about $78,760 a year. The middle half earn between $35.31 and $46.63 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Fargo a good place for occupational therapists once cost of living is counted?
Fargo ranks 297th of 327 metro areas for occupational therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 337th of 354 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring occupational therapists in Fargo?
We list 2 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Fargo. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Fargo.
Do I need a North Dakota license to work in Fargo as an occupational therapist?
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what North Dakota requires for your role with the North Dakota 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 Fargo?
The federal per diem benchmark in Fargo 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 Fargo?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Fargo and across North Dakota. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Fargo.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Fargo 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
20+ Occupational Therapist roles in North Dakota, 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 reportTop-paying employers shown · your North Dakota list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Essentia HealthFargo, ND · 3 postings$43.70/ hr$35–$52
- Mercy Hospital of Valley CityWilliston, ND · 1 wage offer$49.56/ hr$50–$50
- AmedisysVenice, FL · 5 postings$78.48/ hr$52–$89
- Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 4 postings$67.73/ hr$54–$83
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your North Dakota list
2What they are offering now
Low$35Median$43.70High$52
3 OT postings with published pay in North Dakota, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 3 OT roles
- Physical/Occupational Therapist - Pelvic Floor/General Practice (FT) - BismarckPermanent$73k–$109k/ year
- Occupational Therapist - Acute Care/General Practice (Casual) - FargoPer diem$34.96–$52.44/ hour
+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.