Occupational Therapist Salary in California: $128,258 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 157 metropolitan areas, the average median occupational therapist pay sits at $128,258/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1122. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $113,402 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Sunnyvale ($140,084), Oakland ($139,883), Santa Clara ($139,164).

Occupational Therapist Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California occupational therapist salary overview (2026)

$128,258

Avg Median Salary

$61.67

Avg Hourly Rate

16,189

Metro Employed

157

Cities

In California, occupational therapists can anticipate an average median salary of $128,258 in 2026, which significantly exceeds the national median of $103,400 by 24.0%. The disparity in pay between the highest and lowest paying cities is pronounced; for instance, Sunnyvale leads with a salary of $144,371, while Yuba City offers $111,057. This $33,314 difference is influenced by factors such as cost of living, demand for therapy services, and local healthcare funding levels. California’s employment landscape currently supports 16,189 occupational therapists, and the projected annual growth rate for this profession stands at 3.06%. Specific state requirements, including licensing and scope of practice laws, also impact salary potential and job availability. Strong demand for occupational therapy services is driven by an aging population, increased focus on rehabilitation, and expansive insurance coverage for therapy. Key metropolitan areas such as Oakland, Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont also present competitive salary numbers, with median salaries ranging from $140,983 to $144,163. As the need for skilled occupational therapists continues to grow in California, the job market reflects a stable outlook for this profession.

California Occupational Therapist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$90,554

avg across 157 cities

Median

$128,258

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$163,312

avg across 157 cities

Overall salary range in California: $62,001 (lowest entry-level) to $200,398 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$128,258

National Median

$103,400

California occupational therapists earn 24.04% more than the national median (+$24,858/year difference).

California Occupational Therapist Salary Distribution (2026)

Occupational Therapist salaries in California range from $90,554 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $163,312 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $128,258. The California median is $24,858 above the US national median of $103,400. The average hourly rate is $61.67/hr. Approximately 16,189 occupational therapists are employed across 157 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$99,334

2025 BLS Actual

$124,450

2026 Current Est.

$128,258

2019–2027 Growth

+33.1%

Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapists in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$99,334	Actual
2020	$103,658	Actual
2021	$103,546	Actual
2022	$107,095	Actual
2023	$112,924	Actual
2024	$119,756	Actual
2025	$124,450	Actual
2026(current)	$128,258	Estimated
2027	$132,183	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median occupational therapist salary grew 25.3% from $99,334 (2019) to $124,450 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $132,183 by 2027 — a total increase of $32,849 (33.07%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.06% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $69.41/hr

$144,371

+12.56% vs avg

Oakland

78 employed · $69.31/hr

$144,163

+12.40% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $68.96/hr

$143,422

+11.82% vs avg

San Jose

840 employed · $67.81/hr

$141,058

+9.98% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $67.78/hr

$140,983

+9.92% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Yuba City	$111,057	-13.41%	$53.40
San Luis Obispo	$113,541	-11.47%	$54.58
Redding	$113,603	-11.43%	$54.62
Brea	$120,056	-6.39%	$57.72
Fresno	$120,261	-6.24%	$57.82

Best Value Cities for Occupational Therapists in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for occupational therapists.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Chico	$133,215	101.197	$131,639
Vallejo	$139,131	108.479	$128,256
San Jose	$141,058	110.423	$127,743
Sunnyvale	$144,371	113.1	$127,649
Oakland	$144,163	113.1	$127,465

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$90,554	$43.54	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$128,258	$61.67	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$163,312	$78.52	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 157 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Sunnyvale	$144,371	$69.41	$101,308	$195,164	26
2	Oakland	$144,163	$69.31	$98,114	$200,398	78
3	Santa Clara	$143,422	$68.96	$99,131	$186,580	32
4	San Jose	$141,058	$67.81	$100,432	$175,192	840
5	Fremont	$140,983	$67.78	$91,103	$198,701	43
6	San Francisco	$140,955	$67.77	$99,195	$176,707	1,560
7	Vallejo	$139,131	$66.89	$87,457	$166,411	100
8	Santa Cruz	$134,411	$64.62	$100,896	$162,206	100
9	Santa Ana	$134,071	$64.45	$88,320	$182,156	69
10	Chico	$133,215	$64.04	$105,018	$148,077	70
11	Santa Rosa	$131,927	$63.42	$89,786	$166,864	130
12	Fontana	$131,590	$63.27	$86,798	$178,852	32
13	Irvine	$131,445	$63.20	$92,262	$182,254	72
14	Pomona	$130,804	$62.89	$91,263	$171,957	36
15	Simi Valley	$130,732	$62.86	$91,492	$176,236	23
16	Escondido	$130,701	$62.84	$91,551	$171,267	31
17	Petaluma	$130,666	$62.82	$97,071	$172,839	12
18	Fairfield	$130,466	$62.72	$90,879	$170,469	25
19	Fullerton	$129,985	$62.50	$89,387	$174,021	25
20	Daly City	$129,873	$62.44	$89,130	$168,805	20
21	El Monte	$129,832	$62.42	$89,558	$173,497	20
22	Vista	$129,761	$62.38	$89,395	$172,915	24
23	Santa Maria	$129,742	$62.38	$98,804	$157,115	170
24	Concord	$129,730	$62.37	$89,325	$173,149	29
25	Clovis	$129,535	$62.28	$88,882	$167,329	19
26	Garden Grove	$129,402	$62.22	$88,061	$172,036	37
27	Temecula	$129,372	$62.20	$88,511	$167,119	25
28	Santa Clarita	$129,286	$62.16	$91,267	$179,978	41
29	Lancaster	$129,117	$62.07	$87,931	$179,432	40
30	Inglewood	$129,117	$62.07	$87,931	$179,432	21
31	Corona	$128,953	$62.00	$87,431	$178,446	24
32	Richmond	$128,932	$61.99	$86,996	$170,444	25
33	Rialto	$128,871	$61.96	$87,375	$170,237	17
34	Torrance	$128,708	$61.88	$86,489	$178,023	26
35	Elk Grove	$128,462	$61.76	$86,324	$168,523	25
36	Oceanside	$128,431	$61.74	$86,255	$168,335	28
37	Whittier	$128,393	$61.72	$92,194	$165,520	22
38	San Rafael	$128,384	$61.72	$92,040	$165,405	11
39	Napa	$128,299	$61.68	$80,552	$177,974	40
40	Rancho Cucamonga	$128,267	$61.67	$85,888	$167,869	46
41	Hayward	$128,196	$61.63	$85,727	$175,936	23
42	Woodland	$128,163	$61.62	$91,520	$169,427	15
43	Buena Park	$128,143	$61.61	$91,605	$165,012	20
44	Encinitas	$128,132	$61.60	$91,580	$164,650	16
45	Downey	$128,124	$61.60	$85,181	$176,024	22
46	Dublin	$128,053	$61.57	$91,393	$164,713	14
47	Anaheim	$128,013	$61.55	$86,030	$176,184	51
48	Redlands	$128,013	$61.55	$91,299	$169,248	16
49	Chino	$127,943	$61.51	$91,003	$164,018	17
50	Westminster	$127,903	$61.50	$90,516	$168,877	21
51	Santa Monica	$127,892	$61.49	$90,886	$163,851	20
52	San Mateo	$127,879	$61.48	$85,017	$174,853	21
53	Tulare	$127,842	$61.46	$90,767	$163,684	17
54	San Buenaventura	$127,797	$61.44	$94,474	$174,908	19
55	Mission Viejo	$127,712	$61.40	$90,594	$163,579	23
56	Moreno Valley	$127,711	$61.40	$88,303	$174,546	53
57	Pleasanton	$127,692	$61.39	$90,546	$167,844	16
58	Pasadena	$127,511	$61.30	$90,677	$173,600	35
59	Santee	$127,421	$61.26	$89,915	$162,615	9
60	Folsom	$127,392	$61.25	$87,253	$164,575	17
61	Glendale	$127,307	$61.21	$93,345	$173,240	36
62	Mountain View	$127,241	$61.18	$89,494	$162,019	13
63	Pittsburg	$127,231	$61.17	$88,949	$166,626	19
64	Novato	$127,190	$61.15	$89,247	$161,527	11
65	Costa Mesa	$127,143	$61.12	$89,842	$172,684	23
66	Berkeley	$127,010	$61.06	$92,664	$164,006	23
67	Huntington Beach	$126,979	$61.05	$92,977	$176,523	50
68	Bakersfield	$126,970	$61.04	$82,025	$160,774	170
69	Salinas	$126,949	$61.03	$86,282	$158,630	110
70	Jurupa Valley	$126,867	$60.99	$92,719	$171,419	24
71	Hemet	$126,830	$60.98	$88,539	$160,663	14
72	Union City	$126,820	$60.97	$88,516	$160,630	11
73	West Covina	$126,806	$60.96	$92,579	$171,130	25
74	Chino Hills	$126,770	$60.95	$88,270	$164,746	21
75	Stockton	$126,753	$60.94	$84,076	$153,662	230
76	Gilroy	$126,590	$60.86	$87,982	$172,532	10
77	Sacramento	$126,537	$60.84	$97,814	$159,681	810
78	San Marcos	$126,520	$60.83	$87,302	$172,295	17
79	Visalia	$126,444	$60.80	$62,001	$144,315	140
80	Tustin	$126,409	$60.77	$87,049	$163,892	18
81	San Ramon	$126,399	$60.76	$87,542	$163,535	19
82	Eastvale	$126,278	$60.71	$87,265	$163,137	10
83	Murrieta	$126,274	$60.71	$91,494	$169,423	25
84	Vacaville	$126,274	$60.71	$91,494	$174,452	15
85	Brentwood	$126,219	$60.68	$87,127	$171,279	13
86	Long Beach	$126,192	$60.67	$82,145	$178,341	89
87	Hesperia	$126,159	$60.65	$86,989	$171,077	14
88	Lake Elsinore	$126,149	$60.65	$86,965	$170,719	18
89	Roseville	$126,016	$60.59	$92,729	$171,071	35
90	Citrus Heights	$125,988	$60.57	$86,596	$162,499	19
91	El Cajon	$125,875	$60.52	$86,482	$168,415	18
92	San Clemente	$125,838	$60.50	$86,123	$169,675	10
93	Bellflower	$125,788	$60.48	$86,138	$169,828	11
94	Los Angeles	$125,774	$60.48	$85,375	$159,465	4,950
95	Palmdale	$125,732	$60.44	$90,138	$172,286	29
96	La Mirada	$125,731	$60.44	$92,826	$157,088	10
97	Apple Valley	$125,707	$60.43	$85,953	$161,253	19
98	Menifee	$125,670	$60.41	$90,126	$167,731	20
99	Yucaipa	$125,618	$60.39	$85,747	$169,257	14
100	Norwalk	$125,610	$60.39	$89,861	$167,198	22
101	Chula Vista	$125,549	$60.36	$80,824	$168,827	51
102	Rancho Cordova	$125,497	$60.33	$85,473	$168,533	20
103	San Diego	$125,403	$60.29	$95,629	$156,806	1,620
104	Montebello	$125,377	$60.28	$85,198	$168,451	16
105	Compton	$125,327	$60.25	$84,955	$160,003	25
106	Porterville	$125,236	$60.21	$84,878	$160,027	11
107	Lompoc	$125,220	$60.20	$91,721	$155,439	8
108	Hawthorne	$125,026	$60.10	$84,400	$159,338	13
109	Lodi	$125,005	$60.09	$91,889	$163,891	14
110	Antioch	$124,986	$60.09	$88,458	$169,775	17
111	Burbank	$124,976	$60.08	$84,483	$165,416	22
112	Ontario	$124,848	$60.02	$85,650	$166,225	42
113	Modesto	$124,816	$60.01	$85,962	$163,546	170
114	Alhambra	$124,685	$59.94	$93,601	$166,145	13
115	Livermore	$124,685	$59.94	$89,452	$166,145	21
116	Orange	$124,648	$59.93	$87,828	$164,332	21
117	South Gate	$124,645	$59.93	$92,997	$166,012	25
118	Victorville	$124,618	$59.91	$87,760	$163,907	30
119	West Sacramento	$124,575	$59.89	$92,833	$165,779	9
120	Poway	$124,543	$59.88	$90,092	$153,574	8
121	San Leandro	$124,375	$59.80	$92,748	$169,334	23
122	Carlsbad	$124,355	$59.79	$90,306	$168,087	23
123	Oxnard	$124,259	$59.74	$93,228	$156,971	300
124	Indio	$124,235	$59.72	$92,039	$164,651	23
125	Lake Forest	$124,235	$59.72	$92,039	$164,651	14
126	Carson	$124,014	$59.62	$92,035	$168,446	21
127	Rocklin	$123,994	$59.61	$91,987	$168,378	10
128	Newport Beach	$123,783	$59.51	$91,499	$163,162	12
129	Redwood City	$123,773	$59.51	$91,348	$162,732	13
130	Thousand Oaks	$123,758	$59.50	$91,208	$168,369	32
131	Turlock	$123,743	$59.50	$91,278	$167,226	17
132	Manteca	$123,703	$59.48	$91,312	$162,897	13
133	Perris	$123,694	$59.47	$90,782	$162,865	12
134	Madera	$123,593	$59.42	$91,057	$162,217	8
135	Baldwin Park	$123,372	$59.31	$90,421	$161,494	19
136	Palo Alto	$123,372	$59.31	$90,547	$166,311	15
137	San Bernardino	$123,340	$59.30	$79,898	$173,773	33
138	Lakewood	$123,323	$59.29	$90,432	$161,647	19
139	Riverside	$123,188	$59.23	$89,137	$155,095	1,110
140	Hanford	$123,072	$59.17	$89,728	$160,432	10
141	Beaumont	$122,962	$59.12	$89,097	$160,465	9
142	Tracy	$122,932	$59.10	$89,531	$160,052	14
143	Alameda	$122,892	$59.08	$89,440	$164,404	12
144	Laguna Niguel	$122,862	$59.06	$88,868	$164,620	16
145	Milpitas	$122,801	$59.04	$89,232	$164,107	16
146	Camarillo	$122,540	$58.91	$88,635	$159,092	13
147	Oakley	$122,491	$58.89	$85,230	$158,953	8
148	Davis	$122,461	$58.88	$88,327	$158,440	14
149	Upland	$122,370	$58.84	$87,744	$163,002	18
150	La Habra	$122,190	$58.74	$87,709	$162,019	16
151	Lynwood	$122,139	$58.72	$87,720	$157,790	16
152	Merced	$121,580	$58.46	$73,719	$153,776	30
153	Fresno	$120,261	$57.82	$96,588	$155,363	320
154	Brea	$120,056	$57.72	$89,381	$155,122	10
155	Redding	$113,603	$54.62	$81,119	$148,231	70
156	San Luis Obispo	$113,541	$54.58	$82,520	$154,714	100
157	Yuba City	$111,057	$53.40	$82,891	$154,920	30

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore occupational therapist hourly pay in California cities.

Sunnyvale →Oakland →Santa Clara →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new occupational therapists.

Sunnyvale →Oakland →Santa Clara →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced occupational therapists.

Sunnyvale →Oakland →Santa Clara →

Compare Cities in California

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View all comparisons →

Explore More Occupational Therapist Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do occupational therapists make in California in 2026?

The average median occupational therapist salary in California is $128,258/year across 157 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $111,057 in Yuba City to $144,371 in Sunnyvale. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 24.04% above the national median of $103,400. The state employs approximately 16,189 occupational therapists.

What is the highest paying city for occupational therapists in California?

Sunnyvale offers the highest occupational therapist salary in California at $144,371/year ($69.41/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Sunnyvale ($144,371), Oakland ($144,163), Santa Clara ($143,422). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for occupational therapy services, and competition among employers for licensed occupational therapists.

How does California occupational therapist pay compare to the national average?

California's average occupational therapist salary of $128,258 is 24.04% above the national median of $103,400 in 2026. The state employs approximately 16,189 occupational therapists across 157 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level occupational therapist salary in California?

Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $90,554/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $62,001 in lower-paying areas to $105,018 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many occupational therapists are employed in California?

California employs approximately 16,189 occupational therapists across 157 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of occupational therapists nationally. Demand continues to grow as the occupational therapy field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for occupational therapists?

When adjusted for cost of living, Chico offers the highest purchasing power for occupational therapists in California, with an adjusted salary of $131,639 (nominal: $133,215, CoL index: 101.197). This means your dollar goes 1% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

Written by Jordan Miller, OTR/L

Career Analyst

Jordan has 10 years of experience in occupational therapy. They specialize in pediatrics and work in a rehabilitation clinic.

Clinically reviewed by Sofia Chen, OTR/LData verified by Luis Garcia, OTR/L

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.06% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 occupational therapist compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 157 metro areas — larger metro areas with more occupational therapistscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.06%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for occupational therapists (SOC 29-1122).

Compiled and verified by Jordan Miller, OTR/L, a licensed occupational therapist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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