Occupational Therapy Degree in Lowell, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Occupational Therapy degree analysis for Lowell, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$56K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$88K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.3 yrs
in Lowell
Cost of Living
112.5
index (100 = avg)
Occupational Therapy in Lowell, MA Overview
While Lowell has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Occupational Therapy students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,748/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Occupational Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Assessment and Treatment Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Lowell is approximately $56,250, growing to $87,750 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$16,100/yr
Private Tuition
$48,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,748/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,502/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
73%
Occupational Therapy Salary in Lowell (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lowell's cost of living index of 112.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Occupational Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Lowell adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Occupational Therapy ROI Calculator for Lowell
Estimate your return on investment for a Occupational Therapy degree using local Lowell tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,100 | Private avg: $48,000
Lowell avg aid: $14,502/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$123,392
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,875
vs HS diploma in Lowell
ROI Payback Period
7.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lowell
$495,358
Lifetime earnings premium ($618,750) minus total education cost ($123,392)
Student Loan Payoff for Occupational Therapy in Lowell
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lowell for Occupational Therapy
Lowell State University
public
$16,448/yr
$65,792 total
University of Lowell
public
$18,005/yr
$72,020 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lowell Community College
$6,184/yr
Top Employers for Occupational Therapy in Lowell
Lowell offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Occupational Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lowell Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Occupational Therapy Job Titles
Occupational Therapy in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$69K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$59K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 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 Lowell
Pharmacy
$56K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$56K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$77K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$56K starting · 4 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$56K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$56K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$56K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$56K starting · 3 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy Degree in Lowell — 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 Lowell.