Occupational Therapy Degree in Newark, NJ — Salary & ROI 2026
Occupational Therapy degree analysis for Newark, NJ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$68K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$105K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.2 yrs
in Newark
Cost of Living
135
index (100 = avg)
Occupational Therapy in Newark, NJ Overview
Newark, New Jersey (pop. 311,549) has 14 colleges offering Occupational Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 135 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,595/month. Occupational Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Assessment and Treatment Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Newark is approximately $67,500, growing to $105,300 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$16,507/yr
Private Tuition
$47,742/yr
Room & Board
$15,130/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,623/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
74%
Occupational Therapy Salary in Newark (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Newark's cost of living index of 135 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Occupational Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Newark adjustment factor: 1.35x based on the local cost of living index.
Occupational Therapy ROI Calculator for Newark
Estimate your return on investment for a Occupational Therapy degree using local Newark tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,507 | Private avg: $47,742
Newark avg aid: $8,623/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$126,548
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$20,250
vs HS diploma in Newark
ROI Payback Period
6.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Newark
$615,952
Lifetime earnings premium ($742,500) minus total education cost ($126,548)
Student Loan Payoff for Occupational Therapy in Newark
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Newark for Occupational Therapy
Rutgers University-Newark
public
$14,974/yr
$59,896 total
New Jersey Institute of Technology
public
$18,040/yr
$72,160 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Essex County College
$5,040/yr
Top Employers for Occupational Therapy in Newark
Newark offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Occupational Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Newark Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Occupational Therapy Job Titles
Occupational Therapy in Nearby New Jersey Cities
Jersey City, NJ
$64K starting · COL 127
23 colleges
Paterson, NJ
$65K starting · COL 129
5 colleges
Elizabeth, NJ
$58K starting · COL 115.5
6 colleges
Edison, NJ
$59K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Lakewood, NJ
$64K starting · COL 128.8
5 colleges
Woodbridge, NJ
$56K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Toms River, NJ
$59K starting · COL 117.7
4 colleges
Trenton, NJ
$67K starting · COL 134
8 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Newark
Pharmacy
$68K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$68K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$92K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$68K starting · 4 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$68K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$68K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$68K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$68K starting · 3 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy Degree in Newark — 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 Newark.