Occupational Therapy Degree in Eugene, OR — Salary & ROI 2026
Occupational Therapy degree analysis for Eugene, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$65K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$101K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.4 yrs
in Eugene
Cost of Living
130
index (100 = avg)
Occupational Therapy in Eugene, OR Overview
Eugene, Oregon (pop. 176,654) has 14 colleges offering Occupational Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 130 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,157/month. Occupational Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Assessment and Treatment Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Eugene is approximately $65,000, growing to $101,400 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$12,720/yr
Private Tuition
$33,710/yr
Room & Board
$18,672/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,904/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
68%
Occupational Therapy Salary in Eugene (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Eugene's cost of living index of 130 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Occupational Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Eugene adjustment factor: 1.30x based on the local cost of living index.
Occupational Therapy ROI Calculator for Eugene
Estimate your return on investment for a Occupational Therapy degree using local Eugene tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,720 | Private avg: $33,710
Eugene avg aid: $14,904/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$125,568
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,500
vs HS diploma in Eugene
ROI Payback Period
6.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Eugene
$589,432
Lifetime earnings premium ($715,000) minus total education cost ($125,568)
Student Loan Payoff for Occupational Therapy in Eugene
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Eugene for Occupational Therapy
University of Oregon
public
$12,720/yr
$50,880 total
Northwest Christian University
private
$33,710/yr
$134,840 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lane Community College
$4,536/yr
Top Employers for Occupational Therapy in Eugene
Eugene offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Occupational Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Eugene Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Occupational Therapy Job Titles
Occupational Therapy in Nearby Oregon Cities
Portland, OR
$56K starting · COL 112
24 colleges
Salem, OR
$60K starting · COL 120
14 colleges
Gresham, OR
$55K starting · COL 110.2
5 colleges
Hillsboro, OR
$58K starting · COL 115.5
5 colleges
Bend, OR
$54K starting · COL 107
2 colleges
Beaverton, OR
$53K starting · COL 105.9
4 colleges
Medford, OR
$56K starting · COL 111
4 colleges
Springfield, OR
$60K starting · COL 120.3
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Eugene
Pharmacy
$65K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$65K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$88K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$65K starting · 4 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$65K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$65K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$65K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$65K starting · 3 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy Degree in Eugene — 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 Eugene.