Occupational Therapy Degree in Jackson, MS — Salary & ROI 2026
Occupational Therapy degree analysis for Jackson, MS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$47K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$73K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Jackson
Cost of Living
93
index (100 = avg)
Occupational Therapy in Jackson, MS Overview
Jackson, Mississippi (pop. 153,701) has 11 colleges offering Occupational Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 93 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $855/month. Occupational Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Assessment and Treatment Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Jackson is approximately $46,500, growing to $72,540 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$8,684/yr
Private Tuition
$27,400/yr
Room & Board
$12,839/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,629/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
62%
Occupational Therapy Salary in Jackson (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Jackson's cost of living index of 93 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Occupational Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Jackson adjustment factor: 0.93x based on the local cost of living index.
Occupational Therapy ROI Calculator for Jackson
Estimate your return on investment for a Occupational Therapy degree using local Jackson tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,684 | Private avg: $27,400
Jackson avg aid: $14,629/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$86,092
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,950
vs HS diploma in Jackson
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Jackson
$425,408
Lifetime earnings premium ($511,500) minus total education cost ($86,092)
Student Loan Payoff for Occupational Therapy in Jackson
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Jackson for Occupational Therapy
Jackson State University
public
$8,684/yr
$34,736 total
Belhaven University
private
$27,400/yr
$109,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Hinds Community College
$3,300/yr
Top Employers for Occupational Therapy in Jackson
Jackson offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Occupational Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Jackson Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Occupational Therapy Job Titles
Occupational Therapy in Nearby Mississippi Cities
Other Healthcare Majors in Jackson
Pharmacy
$47K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$47K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$63K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$47K starting · 4 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$47K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$47K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$47K starting · 3 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy Degree in Jackson — 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 Jackson.