TX · McAllen · Updated October 15, 2026

Occupational Therapist jobs in McAllen, TX

The median occupational therapist pay in the McAllen area is $46.55 per hour ($96,830 a year), with the typical range running from $36.95 to $57.26. That ranks 144th of 354 U.S. metro areas for occupational therapist pay, and 20th of 327 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in McAllen. Tell us your role and we email current openings near McAllen.

Occupational Therapist pay in McAllen, TX

The metro median is 5% below the Texas statewide median of $48.93 per hour. Nationally the median is $47.28 per hour. BLS counts about 370 occupational therapists employed in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area, 1.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.30).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$29.91$62,21037% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$36.95$76,86022% below U.S. median
Median$46.55$96,8302% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$57.26$119,10021% above U.S. median
Top 10%$72.86$151,55054% above U.S. median

How McAllen ranks

  • 144th of 354 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 20th of 327 after adjusting for local prices
  • 21st of 24 Texas 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 McAllen

  • Overall prices in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission run 14% below the U.S. average (index 85.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 44% below the U.S. average (index 55.9).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $46.55 median hour buys what $54.19 buys at the national price level, 15% 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.

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Estimate your McAllen paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,676
  • Per year: $83,790
  • Per month: $6,982
  • Texas has no state income tax on wages.

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

Travel assignment per diem in McAllen

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).

Open Occupational Therapist roles in Texas

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in McAllen as they open.

PermanentPosted 16 days ago

Occupational Therapist

CommonSpirit Health · Sugar Land, TX

$36.51–$54.31/ hour
  • Full Time
  • Req 101327546592
View role

All Occupational Therapist jobs in Texas

Hospitals in McAllen

CMS lists 1 hospital in McAllen, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of occupational therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Rio Grande Regional Hospital
Mcallen, TX
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes

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
Mission, TX5 mi$46.55/hr88,574
Pharr, TX5 mi$46.55/hr81,142
Harlingen, TX34 mi$44.90/hr72,234
Brownsville, TX52 mi$44.90/hr191,967
Laredo, TX120 mi$47.04/hr261,260
Corpus Christi, TX125 mi$49.50/hr317,317

Occupational Therapist jobs in Texas · Occupational Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Texas

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

Texas does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.

Texas state guide

Other healthcare roles in McAllen

McAllen city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do occupational therapists make in McAllen, TX?

Occupational Therapists in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area have a median pay of $46.55 per hour, about $96,830 a year. The middle half earn between $36.95 and $57.26 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission ranks 20th of 327 metro areas for occupational therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 144th of 354 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.

Where do occupational therapists work in McAllen?

CMS lists 1 hospital in McAllen, led by Rio Grande Regional Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Texas license to work in McAllen as an occupational therapist?

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

The federal per diem benchmark in McAllen 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 McAllen?

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

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What do employers near McAllen pay occupational therapists? Get the report.

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    Pay for your role at other hospitals

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    What they are offering now

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

Your OT pay reportMcAllen, TX · employer-reported wage offers in federal filings, July 2025 – June 2026

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Aegis Therapies, Inc.Dallas, TX · 1 wage offer$53.00/ hr$53–$53
  • Haltom Operations, LLCFort Worth, TX · 1 wage offer$50.00/ hr$50–$50
  • Hunt Memorial Hospital DistrictGreenville, TX · 1 wage offer$50.00/ hr$50–$50
  • Select Physical Therapy Texas Limited PartnershipDallas, TX · 1 wage offer$48.20/ hr$43–$53

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$36Median$44.22High$55

6 OT postings with published pay in Texas, 6 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 6 OT roles

  1. Occupational Therapist - OTPermanent
    $76k–$103k/ year
    Select Medical · Irving, TX · posted yesterday
  2. Occupational Therapist, Home HealthPermanent
    $97k–$118k/ year
    AccentCare · Austin, TX · posted 2 days ago

+ 4 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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