Occupational Therapy Degree in Charleston, SC — Salary & ROI 2026
Occupational Therapy degree analysis for Charleston, SC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$80K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Charleston
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Occupational Therapy in Charleston, SC Overview
Charleston, South Carolina (pop. 150,277) has 9 colleges offering Occupational Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,168/month. Occupational Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Assessment and Treatment Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Charleston is approximately $51,500, growing to $80,340 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$13,659/yr
Private Tuition
$29,969/yr
Room & Board
$12,112/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,774/yr
Unemployment
6.2%
Graduation Rate
62%
Occupational Therapy Salary in Charleston (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Charleston's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Occupational Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Charleston adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Occupational Therapy ROI Calculator for Charleston
Estimate your return on investment for a Occupational Therapy degree using local Charleston tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,659 | Private avg: $29,969
Charleston avg aid: $7,774/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$103,084
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,450
vs HS diploma in Charleston
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Charleston
$463,416
Lifetime earnings premium ($566,500) minus total education cost ($103,084)
Student Loan Payoff for Occupational Therapy in Charleston
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Charleston for Occupational Therapy
College of Charleston
public
$12,622/yr
$50,488 total
The Citadel
public
$14,696/yr
$58,784 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Trident Technical College
$5,064/yr
Top Employers for Occupational Therapy in Charleston
Charleston offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Occupational Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Charleston Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Occupational Therapy Job Titles
Occupational Therapy in Nearby South Carolina Cities
Other Healthcare Majors in Charleston
Pharmacy
$52K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$70K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$52K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$52K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy Degree in Charleston — 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 Charleston.