Occupational Therapy Degree in St. Paul, MN — Salary & ROI 2026
Occupational Therapy degree analysis for St. Paul, MN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$54K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$84K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.9 yrs
in St. Paul
Cost of Living
108
index (100 = avg)
Occupational Therapy in St. Paul, MN Overview
St. Paul, Minnesota (pop. 308,096) has 20 colleges offering Occupational Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 108 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $843/month. Occupational Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Assessment and Treatment Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in St. Paul is approximately $54,000, growing to $84,240 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$10,448/yr
Private Tuition
$52,990/yr
Room & Board
$13,408/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,005/yr
Unemployment
4.7%
Graduation Rate
70%
Occupational Therapy Salary in St. Paul (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for St. Paul's cost of living index of 108 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Occupational Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.St. Paul adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Occupational Therapy ROI Calculator for St. Paul
Estimate your return on investment for a Occupational Therapy degree using local St. Paul tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,448 | Private avg: $52,990
St. Paul avg aid: $15,005/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,424
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,200
vs HS diploma in St. Paul
ROI Payback Period
5.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in St. Paul
$498,576
Lifetime earnings premium ($594,000) minus total education cost ($95,424)
Student Loan Payoff for Occupational Therapy in St. Paul
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in St. Paul for Occupational Therapy
Hamline University
private
$45,776/yr
$183,104 total
Macalester College
private
$60,204/yr
$240,816 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Saint Paul College
$5,772/yr
Top Employers for Occupational Therapy in St. Paul
St. Paul offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Occupational Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key St. Paul Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Occupational Therapy Job Titles
Occupational Therapy in Nearby Minnesota Cities
Minneapolis, MN
$49K starting · COL 97
15 colleges
Saint Paul, MN
$51K starting · COL 101.5
11 colleges
Rochester, MN
$53K starting · COL 105
8 colleges
Duluth, MN
$50K starting · COL 100
5 colleges
Bloomington, MN
$50K starting · COL 100.2
4 colleges
Brooklyn Park, MN
$49K starting · COL 98.8
4 colleges
Plymouth, MN
$54K starting · COL 107.3
4 colleges
Maple Grove, MN
$54K starting · COL 107.4
4 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in St. Paul
Pharmacy
$54K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$73K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$54K starting · 4 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$54K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$54K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$54K starting · 3 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy Degree in St. Paul — 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 St. Paul.