Occupational Therapists pay range in Rochester
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $109,810 or more. The middle half of occupational therapists in Rochester earn between $65,940 and $99,140.
- $58K10th
- $66K25th
- $82KMedian
- $99K75th
- $110K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,190 | $7,016 | $40.48 |
| Median | $81,750 | $6,812 | $39.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,940 | $5,495 | $31.70 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $99,140 | $8,262 | $47.66 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Occupational Therapists pay in Rochester vs. New York and the U.S.
Occupational therapists in Rochester earn 14% less than the New York average ($97,650) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($101,280). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $100,330.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $84,190 | $81,750 | $57,940 | $109,810 | 740 |
| New York | $97,650 | $96,390 | $64,770 | $133,700 | 11,690 |
| United States | $101,280 | $100,330 | $71,690 | $131,950 | 162,450 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Occupational Therapists salary after taxes in Rochester
On the average salary of $84,190, a single filer in Rochester takes home about $64,032 a year, or $5,336 a month and $2,463 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Rochester a good place for occupational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rochester area are 3% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.0), so the average $84,190 buys what about $86,763 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Rochester ($51,210). A typical home costs $285,034, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Occupational Therapists salary in other New York cities
Rochester ranks 12th of 13 New York metro areas for this job; New York pays the most ($107,110).
- New York$107,110
- Ithaca$99,060
- Kiryas Joel$98,060
- Kingston$94,650
- Elmira$92,060
- Watertown$90,540
- Glens Falls$90,420
- Syracuse$89,860
- Binghamton$88,650
- Rochester$84,190
Highest-paying cities for occupational therapists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($137,450).
- San Jose, CA$137,450
- San Francisco, CA$136,250
- Santa Cruz, CA$131,980
- Vallejo, CA$128,760
- Santa Rosa, CA$128,610
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Occupational Therapists salary in Rochester: questions
How much do occupational therapists make an hour in Rochester?
$40.48 an hour on average, and $39.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level occupational therapists salary in Rochester?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the occupational therapists take-home pay in Rochester?
About $64,032 a year ($5,336 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,190. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do occupational therapists earn more in Rochester than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($101,280).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1122; area Rochester, NY (40380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.43, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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