WI · Appleton · Updated October 15, 2026

Occupational Therapist jobs in Appleton, WI

Occupational Therapists in the Appleton area earn a median of $39.37 per hour, about $81,880 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $36.52 and $49.03. That ranks 309th of 354 U.S. metro areas for occupational therapist pay, and 279th of 327 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Appleton. The free report below lists employers near Appleton and what they pay.

More open Occupational Therapist roles in Appleton

2 more open roles from employers in Appleton. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

Occupational Therapist pay in Appleton, WI

The metro median is 5% below the Wisconsin statewide median of $41.66 per hour. Nationally the median is $47.28 per hour. BLS counts about 140 occupational therapists employed in the Appleton metro area, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.12).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$31.16$64,81034% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$36.52$75,96023% below U.S. median
Median$39.37$81,88017% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$49.03$101,9804% above U.S. median
Top 10%$49.18$102,2904% above U.S. median

How Appleton ranks

  • 309th of 354 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 279th of 327 after adjusting for local prices
  • 11th of 12 Wisconsin 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.

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Named employers near Appleton, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Appleton

  • Overall prices in Appleton run 8% below the U.S. average (index 92.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 29% below the U.S. average (index 70.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $39.37 median hour buys what $42.60 buys at the national price level, 10% 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 Appleton paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,417
  • Per year: $70,866
  • Per month: $5,906

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

Travel assignment per diem in Appleton

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 Wisconsin

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

All Occupational Therapist jobs in Wisconsin

Occupational Therapist salary in Wisconsin

Hospitals in Appleton

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Appleton, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of occupational therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Ascension Ne Wisconsin - St Elizabeth Campus
Appleton, WI
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Thedacare Regional Medical Center - Appleton Inc
Appleton, WI
Acute careNonprofit4 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
Oshkosh, WI20 mi$42.56/hr67,242
Green Bay, WI26 mi$38.69/hr106,311
Milwaukee, WI87 mi$42.16/hr563,531
Waukesha, WI88 mi$42.16/hr71,461
West Allis, WI90 mi$42.16/hr59,784
Madison, WI97 mi$42.78/hr285,300

Occupational Therapist jobs in Wisconsin · Occupational Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Wisconsin

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

Wisconsin taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Wisconsin state guide

Other healthcare roles in Appleton

Appleton city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do occupational therapists make in Appleton, WI?

Occupational Therapists in the Appleton metro area have a median pay of $39.37 per hour, about $81,880 a year. The middle half earn between $36.52 and $49.03 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Appleton ranks 279th of 327 metro areas for occupational therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 309th of 354 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.

Where do occupational therapists work in Appleton?

CMS lists 2 hospitals in Appleton, led by Ascension Ne Wisconsin - St Elizabeth Campus. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in Appleton as an occupational therapist?

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Appleton 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 Appleton?

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

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

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

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    What they are offering now

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

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

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Agnesian HealthCare, Inc.Waupun, WI · 1 wage offer$35.81/ hr$36–$36
  • Grandison Management, Inc.Manitowoc, WI · 1 wage offer$34.64/ hr$35–$35
  • Grandison Management, Inc.Tomahawk, WI · 1 wage offer$34.64/ hr$35–$35
  • Grandison Management, Inc.Green Bay, WI · 1 wage offer$33.16/ hr$33–$33

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

2What they are offering now

Low$34Median$34.55High$35

11 employer-reported wage offers for OT in federal filings in Wisconsin, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 2 OT roles

  1. Occupational Therapist - Inpatient PRNPer diem
    $60.00–$60.00/ hour
    Mercy · Wisconsin · posted 30+ days ago
  2. Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT) - Prevea OutpatientPermanent
    $34.21–$51.31/ hour
    Hospital Sisters Health System · De Pere, WI · posted 30+ days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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