PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Occupational Therapist (OT) - Full-Time
Select Medical · Cleveland, OH
$34.00–$48.57/ hour
Occupational Therapist jobs in Columbus, OH
The median occupational therapist pay in the Columbus area is $45.56 per hour ($94,770 a year), with the typical range running from $39.06 to $50.93. That ranks 181st of 354 U.S. metro areas for occupational therapist pay, and 157th of 327 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 11 hospitals in Columbus. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Columbus.
- $45.56median pay per hour, Columbus
- $39–$51typical range per hour
- 1,330occupational therapists employed in the metro area
- 95cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Occupational Therapist pay in Columbus, OH
The metro median is 1% below the Ohio statewide median of $46.09 per hour. Nationally the median is $47.28 per hour. BLS counts about 1,330 occupational therapists employed in the Columbus metro area, 1.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.24).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $31.25 | $65,000 | 34% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $39.06 | $81,240 | 17% below U.S. median |
| Median | $45.56 | $94,770 | 4% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $50.93 | $105,930 | 8% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $58.29 | $121,240 | 23% above U.S. median |
How Columbus ranks
- 181st of 354 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 157th of 327 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 12 Ohio 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 Columbus
- Overall prices in Columbus run 5% below the U.S. average (index 95.5, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 12% below the U.S. average (index 87.9).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $45.56 median hour buys what $47.72 buys at the national price level, 1% 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.
Get the Columbus Occupational Therapist pay report
Named employers near Columbus, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Columbus paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,640
- Per year: $82,008
- Per month: $6,834
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Columbus metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Columbus
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $131 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,477 |
| 13-week assignment | $19,201 |
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 Ohio
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Columbus as they open.
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Hospitals in Columbus
CMS lists 11 hospitals in Columbus, 2 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of occupational therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors Hospital Columbus, OH | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Riverside Methodist Hospital Columbus, OH | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Ohio State University State Health System Columbus, OH | Acute care | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Grant Medical Center Columbus, OH | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Mount Carmel East & West Columbus, OH | Acute care | Nonprofit | 2 of 5 | Yes |
| Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus, OH | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| Mount Carmel Behavioral Health Columbus, OH | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Ohio Hospital For Psychiatry Columbus, OH | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| River Vista Health And Wellness Llc Columbus, OH | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Sun Behavioral Columbus Columbus, OH | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newark, OH | 30 mi | $45.56/hr | 51,424 |
| Springfield, OH | 43 mi | $38.76/hr | 58,138 |
| Kettering, OH | 65 mi | $48.40/hr | 57,028 |
| Dayton, OH | 66 mi | $48.40/hr | 136,346 |
| Middletown, OH | 80 mi | $46.78/hr | 52,291 |
| Hamilton, OH | 93 mi | $46.78/hr | 63,953 |
Occupational Therapist jobs in Ohio · Occupational Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Ohio
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Ohio requires for your role with the Ohio licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Ohio taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Columbus
Columbus city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do occupational therapists make in Columbus, OH?
Occupational Therapists in the Columbus metro area have a median pay of $45.56 per hour, about $94,770 a year. The middle half earn between $39.06 and $50.93 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Columbus a good place for occupational therapists once cost of living is counted?
Columbus ranks 157th of 327 metro areas for occupational therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 181st of 354 before adjusting. Overall prices run 5% below the U.S. average.
Where do occupational therapists work in Columbus?
CMS lists 11 hospitals in Columbus, led by Doctors Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Ohio license to work in Columbus as an occupational therapist?
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Ohio requires for your role with the Ohio 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 Columbus?
The federal per diem benchmark in Columbus is $131 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,477 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place occupational therapists in Columbus?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Columbus and across Ohio. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Columbus.
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What do employers near Columbus 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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90+ Occupational Therapist roles in Ohio, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your OT pay reportColumbus, OH · employer-reported wage offers in federal filings, July 2025 – June 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Grandison Management, Inc.Columbus, OH · 1 wage offer$34.73/ hr$35–$35
- Grandison Management, Inc.Delaware, OH · 1 wage offer$34.73/ hr$35–$35
- Grandison Management, Inc.Steubenville, OH · 1 wage offer$34.24/ hr$34–$34
- Grandison Management, Inc.Ohio · 4 wage offers$30.18/ hr$24–$30
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$29Median$32.27High$34
10 employer-reported wage offers for OT in federal filings in Ohio, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 1 OT roles
- Occupational Therapist (OT) - Full-TimePermanent$34.00–$48.57/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.