Occupational Therapy Degree in Worcester, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Occupational Therapy degree analysis for Worcester, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$59K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$91K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8.4 yrs
in Worcester
Cost of Living
117
index (100 = avg)
Occupational Therapy in Worcester, MA Overview
Worcester, Massachusetts (pop. 206,518) has 11 colleges offering Occupational Therapy programs. The local cost of living index of 117 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,228/month. Occupational Therapy has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Patient Assessment and Treatment Planning skills. The adjusted starting salary in Worcester is approximately $58,500, growing to $91,260 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$16,670/yr
Private Tuition
$56,344/yr
Room & Board
$20,077/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,422/yr
Unemployment
5.2%
Graduation Rate
51%
Occupational Therapy Salary in Worcester (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Worcester's cost of living index of 117 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Occupational Therapy salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $90,000 senior level.Worcester adjustment factor: 1.17x based on the local cost of living index.
Occupational Therapy ROI Calculator for Worcester
Estimate your return on investment for a Occupational Therapy degree using local Worcester tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,670 | Private avg: $56,344
Worcester avg aid: $15,422/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$146,988
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$17,550
vs HS diploma in Worcester
ROI Payback Period
8.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Worcester
$496,512
Lifetime earnings premium ($643,500) minus total education cost ($146,988)
Student Loan Payoff for Occupational Therapy in Worcester
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Worcester for Occupational Therapy
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
private
$56,818/yr
$227,272 total
College of the Holy Cross
private
$55,870/yr
$223,480 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Quinsigamond Community College
$5,760/yr
Top Employers for Occupational Therapy in Worcester
Worcester offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Occupational Therapy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Worcester 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
Springfield, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$67K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Lowell, MA
$56K starting · COL 112.5
5 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 Worcester
Pharmacy
$59K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$59K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$80K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$59K starting · 4 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$59K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$59K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$59K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$59K starting · 3 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy Degree in Worcester — 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 Worcester.