Occupational Therapy Degree in Boston, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Occupational Therapy degree analysis for Boston, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$69K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$107K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.6 yrs
in Boston
Cost of Living
137
index (100 = avg)
Occupational Therapy in Boston, MA Overview
Boston is one of Massachusetts's top college towns, with 24 institutions and a student population of 40,388. Public tuition averages $14,167/year here — near the national average for public universities. Occupational Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Assessment and Treatment Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Boston is approximately $68,500, growing to $106,860 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
24
Public Tuition
$14,167/yr
Private Tuition
$60,730/yr
Room & Board
$14,423/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,458/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
56%
Occupational Therapy Salary in Boston (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Boston's cost of living index of 137 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Occupational Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Boston adjustment factor: 1.37x based on the local cost of living index.
Occupational Therapy ROI Calculator for Boston
Estimate your return on investment for a Occupational Therapy degree using local Boston tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,167 | Private avg: $60,730
Boston avg aid: $10,458/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$114,360
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$20,550
vs HS diploma in Boston
ROI Payback Period
5.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Boston
$639,140
Lifetime earnings premium ($753,500) minus total education cost ($114,360)
Student Loan Payoff for Occupational Therapy in Boston
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Boston for Occupational Therapy
Boston University
private
$62,360/yr
$249,440 total
Northeastern University
private
$59,100/yr
$236,400 total
University of Massachusetts Boston
public
$14,167/yr
$56,668 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Bunker Hill Community College
$5,760/yr
Roxbury Community College
$5,280/yr
Top Employers for Occupational Therapy in Boston
Boston offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Occupational Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Boston Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Occupational Therapy Job Titles
Occupational Therapy in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Worcester, MA
$59K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 colleges
Brockton, MA
$54K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$64K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$51K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Boston
Pharmacy
$69K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$69K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$93K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$69K starting · 4 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$69K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$69K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$69K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$69K starting · 3 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy Degree in Boston — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Occupational Therapy ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Boston.