Occupational Therapy Degree in Bridgeport, CT — Salary & ROI 2026
Occupational Therapy degree analysis for Bridgeport, CT. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$71K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$110K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Bridgeport
Cost of Living
141
index (100 = avg)
Occupational Therapy in Bridgeport, CT Overview
Bridgeport, Connecticut (pop. 148,529) has 11 colleges offering Occupational Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 141 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,763/month. Occupational Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Assessment and Treatment Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Bridgeport is approximately $70,500, growing to $109,980 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$13,201/yr
Private Tuition
$35,160/yr
Room & Board
$19,837/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,621/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
69%
Occupational Therapy Salary in Bridgeport (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Bridgeport's cost of living index of 141 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Occupational Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Bridgeport adjustment factor: 1.41x based on the local cost of living index.
Occupational Therapy ROI Calculator for Bridgeport
Estimate your return on investment for a Occupational Therapy degree using local Bridgeport tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,201 | Private avg: $35,160
Bridgeport avg aid: $10,621/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$132,152
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,150
vs HS diploma in Bridgeport
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Bridgeport
$643,348
Lifetime earnings premium ($775,500) minus total education cost ($132,152)
Student Loan Payoff for Occupational Therapy in Bridgeport
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Bridgeport for Occupational Therapy
University of Bridgeport
private
$35,160/yr
$140,640 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Housatonic Community College
$4,920/yr
Top Employers for Occupational Therapy in Bridgeport
Bridgeport offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Occupational Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Bridgeport Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Occupational Therapy Job Titles
Occupational Therapy in Nearby Connecticut Cities
Stamford, CT
$71K starting · COL 141
7 colleges
New Haven, CT
$62K starting · COL 123
10 colleges
Hartford, CT
$58K starting · COL 116
10 colleges
Waterbury, CT
$70K starting · COL 140
8 colleges
Norwalk, CT
$64K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
Danbury, CT
$58K starting · COL 115.2
4 colleges
New Britain, CT
$55K starting · COL 109.7
3 colleges
West Hartford, CT
$56K starting · COL 112.5
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Bridgeport
Pharmacy
$71K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$71K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$96K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$71K starting · 4 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$71K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$71K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$71K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$71K starting · 3 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy Degree in Bridgeport — 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 Bridgeport.