Occupational Therapy Degree in Syracuse, NY — Salary & ROI 2026
Occupational Therapy degree analysis for Syracuse, NY. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$69K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$107K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Syracuse
Cost of Living
137
index (100 = avg)
Occupational Therapy in Syracuse, NY Overview
Syracuse, New York (pop. 148,620) has 10 colleges offering Occupational Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 137 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,093/month. Occupational Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Assessment and Treatment Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Syracuse is approximately $68,500, growing to $106,860 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$14,304/yr
Private Tuition
$57,750/yr
Room & Board
$19,896/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,141/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
62%
Occupational Therapy Salary in Syracuse (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Syracuse's cost of living index of 137 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Occupational Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Syracuse adjustment factor: 1.37x based on the local cost of living index.
Occupational Therapy ROI Calculator for Syracuse
Estimate your return on investment for a Occupational Therapy degree using local Syracuse tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,304 | Private avg: $57,750
Syracuse avg aid: $16,141/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$136,800
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$20,550
vs HS diploma in Syracuse
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Syracuse
$616,700
Lifetime earnings premium ($753,500) minus total education cost ($136,800)
Student Loan Payoff for Occupational Therapy in Syracuse
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Syracuse for Occupational Therapy
Syracuse University
private
$57,750/yr
$231,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Onondaga Community College
$5,504/yr
Top Employers for Occupational Therapy in Syracuse
Syracuse offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Occupational Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Syracuse Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Occupational Therapy Job Titles
Occupational Therapy in Nearby New York Cities
New York City, NY
$83K starting · COL 166
49 colleges
New York, NY
$94K starting · COL 187.2
279 colleges
Oyster Bay, NY
$73K starting · COL 145
11 colleges
Buffalo, NY
$61K starting · COL 122
10 colleges
North Hempstead, NY
$71K starting · COL 141.3
9 colleges
Babylon, NY
$76K starting · COL 152.3
8 colleges
Yonkers, NY
$73K starting · COL 145.3
8 colleges
Rochester, NY
$70K starting · COL 140
13 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Syracuse
Pharmacy
$69K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$69K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$93K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$69K starting · 4 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$69K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$69K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$69K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$69K starting · 3 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy Degree in Syracuse — 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 Syracuse.