Occupational Therapy Major — Salary & ROI 2026
Helping patients develop, recover, and maintain skills for daily living and working.
Starting Salary
$50K
median
Mid-Career
$78K
salary
ROI Payback
3.8 yrs
avg payback
Unemployment
1.5%
rate
Occupational Therapy Overview
Helping patients develop, recover, and maintain skills for daily living and working.
Category
Healthcare
Degree Level
Bachelor's
Graduation Rate
82%
Enrollment Trend
growing
Online Available
Limited
Underemployment
5%
Lifetime Premium
$550K
Female Graduates
85%
Occupational Therapy Degree ROI Calculator
Estimate your actual return on investment based on school type and scholarships.
0 to $40K/year in aid
Est. Total Cost
$18,900
4-year tuition
Net Cost (w/ aid)
$18,900
after scholarships
ROI Payback
1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return
$531,100
Lifetime earnings premium ($550,000) minus net degree cost ($18,900)
Occupational Therapy Salary Progression
Common Occupational Therapy Careers
Occupational Therapist
Hand Therapist
Pediatric OT
Top Employers
Skills You'll Learn
Top Schools for Occupational Therapy
#1
University of Southern California
#2
Boston University
#3
Washington University
#4
Colorado State
#5
University of Illinois Chicago
Related Majors
Occupational Therapy Degree FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enrollment and graduation data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES/IPEDS). Tuition estimates based on College Board Annual Survey of Colleges. Last updated March 2026.
Occupational Therapy Programs by City
Tuition, salary outcomes, and cost of living for occupational therapy programs vary by city. See your local numbers:
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