Occupational Therapy Degree in Wichita, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Occupational Therapy degree analysis for Wichita, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$81K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.5 yrs
in Wichita
Cost of Living
104
index (100 = avg)
Occupational Therapy in Wichita, KS Overview
Wichita, Kansas (pop. 397,532) has 20 colleges offering Occupational Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 104 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $837/month. Occupational Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Assessment and Treatment Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Wichita is approximately $52,000, growing to $81,120 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$8,640/yr
Private Tuition
$43,408/yr
Room & Board
$12,817/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,474/yr
Unemployment
5.4%
Graduation Rate
46%
Occupational Therapy Salary in Wichita (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wichita's cost of living index of 104 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Occupational Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Wichita adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Occupational Therapy ROI Calculator for Wichita
Estimate your return on investment for a Occupational Therapy degree using local Wichita tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,640 | Private avg: $43,408
Wichita avg aid: $16,474/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$85,828
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,600
vs HS diploma in Wichita
ROI Payback Period
5.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wichita
$486,172
Lifetime earnings premium ($572,000) minus total education cost ($85,828)
Student Loan Payoff for Occupational Therapy in Wichita
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wichita for Occupational Therapy
Wichita State University
public
$8,640/yr
$34,560 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Butler Community College
$3,564/yr
Top Employers for Occupational Therapy in Wichita
Wichita offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Occupational Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wichita Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Occupational Therapy Job Titles
Occupational Therapy in Nearby Kansas Cities
Overland Park, KS
$52K starting · COL 103
13 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$41K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Olathe, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$42K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$54K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$43K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$48K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Wichita
Pharmacy
$52K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$71K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$52K starting · 4 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$52K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$52K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy Degree in Wichita — 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 Wichita.