Occupational Therapist salary in California
Occupational Therapists in California earn a median of $57.44 per hour, about $119,470 a year, 21% above the U.S. median of $47.28. The middle half earn between $48.63 and $63.76 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, at $64.77 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $57.44median pay per hour
- $119,470median pay per year
- 12,020employed in California
- #1of 50 states by median pay
Occupational Therapist pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $39.47 | $82,100 | $32.25 |
| Lower quartile | $48.63 | $101,150 | $38.70 |
| Median | $57.44 | $119,470 | $47.28 |
| Upper quartile | $63.76 | $132,620 | $53.11 |
| Top 10% | $74.42 | $154,790 | $62.42 |
Occupational Therapist pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $64.77 | $134,720 | 700 | 13% above | $58.66 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $64.35 | $133,850 | 80 | 12% above | $58.56 |
| Vallejo, CA | $62.42 | $129,830 | 90 | 9% above | $57.54 |
| Chico, CA | $62.01 | $128,980 | 80 | 8% above | $61.28 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $62.00 | $128,960 | 1,510 | 8% above | $53.63 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $60.68 | $126,220 | 90 | 6% above | $56.30 |
| Napa, CA | $59.94 | $124,680 | 40 | 4% above | $53.25 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $59.57 | $123,900 | 650 | 4% above | $55.85 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $57.65 | $119,920 | 140 | in line with | $52.99 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $57.48 | $119,550 | 160 | in line with | $56.98 |
| Modesto, CA | $57.11 | $118,790 | 160 | 1% below | $54.86 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $56.97 | $118,500 | 140 | 1% below | $54.21 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $55.47 | $115,380 | 4,500 | 3% below | $48.84 |
| Salinas, CA | $54.03 | $112,380 | 110 | 6% below | $49.55 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $53.87 | $112,050 | 1,260 | 6% below | $48.15 |
| Merced, CA | $52.42 | $109,040 | 30 | 9% below | $53.34 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $52.41 | $109,010 | 980 | 9% below | $49.24 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $51.76 | $107,650 | 230 | 10% below | $46.83 |
| Fresno, CA | $51.62 | $107,370 | 260 | 10% below | $50.53 |
| Redding, CA | $50.18 | $104,380 | 40 | 13% below | $49.84 |
| Visalia, CA | $48.24 | $100,350 | 130 | 16% below | $48.32 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $48.21 | $100,280 | 90 | 16% below | $44.39 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Occupational Therapist pay in states next to California
What employers are posting in California
- 38roles with published pay
- $62.50median pay per hour
- $50–$75typical published range
- 15employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| CommonSpirit Health | 9 | $64.73 |
| BrightSpring Health Services | 7 | $62.50 |
| Kaweah Delta Health Care District | 5 | $62.80 |
| Montage Health | 4 | $67.73 |
| LifePoint Health | 3 | $51.70 |
| Central Maine Healthcare Corporation | 1 | $54 |
| Sharp HealthCare | 1 | $59.96 |
| Rady Children's Hospital | 1 | $53.92 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 38 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Occupational Therapist jobs in California · Occupational Therapist salary nationwide · California state guide
Common questions
How much does a occupational therapist make in California?
The median is $57.44 per hour, about $119,470 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $39.47 and the top 10% earn over $74.42 (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays occupational therapists the most?
Among California metro areas, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has the highest median at $64.77 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for occupational therapist pay?
California ranks 1st of 50 states by median occupational therapist pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
What do employers near you 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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230+ Occupational Therapist roles in California, sent free by email
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Your OT pay reportCalifornia · pay published by hospitals, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other hospitals
- Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 4 postings$67.73/ hr$54–$83
- CommonSpirit HealthNORTHRIDGE, CA · 9 postings$64.73/ hr$48–$81
- Kaweah Delta Health Care DistrictVisalia, CA · 5 postings$62.80/ hr$50–$75
- BrightSpring Health ServicesBURBANK, CA · 7 postings$62.50/ hr$60–$65
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
38 OT postings with published pay in California, 35 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 38 OT roles
- Occupational TherapistPer diem$52.04–$77.42/ hour
- Occupational Therapist Home HealthPermanent$49.78–$74.05/ hour
+ 36 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.