Occupational Therapists in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where California occupational therapists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $103,950 and $136,380, with a median of $124,510.
Occupational Therapists in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 85 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $115,606. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 27 | $97,261 |
| Level II — qualified | 37 | $115,606 |
| Level III — experienced | 14 | $126,666 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 5 | $135,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Occupational Therapists in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Stepping Stones Group LLC | OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST | 5 | $115,606 |
| Hayward Healthcare & Wellness Center, LLC | Occupational Therapist | 3 | $109,907 |
| PRISTINE REHAB CARE, LLC | Occupational Therapist | 3 | $83,616 |
| Select Rehabilitation LLC | Occupational Therapist | 3 | $109,907 |
| TheraGen LLC | Occupational Therapist | 3 | $138,000 |
| Aegis Therapies, Inc. | Director of Rehab | 2 | $146,140 |
| Bayshore Therapies LLC | Occupational Therapist | 2 | $120,640 |
| CNRC, LLC | Occupational Therapist | 2 | $91,832 |
| EdTheory LLC | OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST | 2 | $100,942 |
| Golden Oak Holdings LLC | Occupational Therapist | 2 | $118,560 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Occupational Therapist at Dignity Community Care$135,000SacramentoWage Level IVDecided —I-200-26084-729272
- OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST at THE STEPPING STONES GROUP LLC$101,234El CajonWage Level IIDecided Mar 13, 2026I-200-26066-687066
- Registered Occupational Therapist at Bayshore Therapies LLC$122,720ReddingWage Level IIIDecided Feb 25, 2026I-200-26050-650135
- Occupational Therapists at Better Care, Incorporated$118,893San JoseWage Level IIDecided Feb 23, 2026I-200-26044-640838
- Occupational Therapist at Lodi Memorial Hospital Association, Inc.$101,941LodiWage Level IIIDecided Feb 18, 2026I-200-26042-632763
- Occupational Therapist at Hayward Healthcare & Wellness Center, LLC$115,918HaywardWage Level IIDecided Jan 29, 2026I-200-26022-582774
- Occupational Therapist at UCSF MEDICAL CENTER$119,662San FranciscoDecided Jan 26, 2026I-200-26016-566221
- Occupational Therapist at Fresno Skilled Nursing & Wellness Centre LLC$97,178FresnoWage Level IIDecided Jan 20, 2026I-200-26012-553552
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Occupational Therapists pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Occupational Therapists specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 74 certified offers. The most common variant is Occupational Therapist at a median of $114,400.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occupational Therapist | The Stepping Stones Group LLC | 71 | $114,400 |
| Occupational Therapist Clinical Specialist | San Joaquin General Hospital | 3 | $129,459 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Occupational Therapists in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 85 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $115,606.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | The Stepping Stones Group LLC | 84 | $115,606 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Blossom Pediatrics LLC | 1 | $138,840 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Master's degree
Experience
Internship/residency
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Service Orientation
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Monitoring
Cross-functional
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Test and evaluate patients' physical and mental abilities and analyze medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
- 02
Complete and maintain necessary records.
- 03
Plan, organize, and conduct occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate persons with disabilities because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems.
- 04
Plan and implement programs and social activities to help patients learn work or school skills and adjust to handicaps.
- 05
Evaluate patients' progress and prepare reports that detail progress.
- 06
Train caregivers in providing for the needs of a patient during and after therapy.
- 07
Select activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.
- 08
Lay out materials such as puzzles, scissors and eating utensils for use in therapy, and clean and repair these tools after therapy sessions.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+13.8%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing much faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for occupational therapists in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$136,870
- San Francisco$136,770
- Sacramento$122,780
- Los Angeles$122,040
- San Diego$121,680
- Riverside$119,530
Compare Occupational Therapists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Occupational Therapists in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Occupational Therapists in California is $124,510.
- How does California compare to the national median for Occupational Therapists?
- The California median is +22.6% versus the BLS national figure of $101,555.
- What is the salary range for Occupational Therapists in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $85,550 and the 90th-percentile at $158,560, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Occupational Therapists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 13.8% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Occupational Therapists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Master's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.