SOC 29-1122 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Occupational Therapists — Columbus
Columbus, OH · 10 metro areas compared
The median wage for Occupational Therapists in Columbus, OH is $98,920 per year, close to the national median of $100,330 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Occupational Therapists in Columbus, OH is $98,920 per year, close to the national median of $100,330 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $65,060 at the tenth percentile to more than $119,710 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $82,090 to $106,970.
Employment stands at 1,370, or 1.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Dayton leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $103,840. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 99th of 611 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,060 | −35.2% |
| 25th | $82,090 | −18.2% |
| Median (50th) | $98,920 | −1.4% |
| 75th | $106,970 | +6.6% |
| 90th | $119,710 | +19.3% |
| Mean | $96,290 | −4.0% |
Other metro areas in Ohio
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dayton | $103,840 | 530 | |
| 2 | Cleveland | $103,060 | 1,200 | |
| 3 | Cincinnati | $100,870 | 1,360 | |
| 4 | Toledo | $100,340 | 380 | |
| 5 | Akron | $98,520 | 430 | |
| 6 | Canton | $98,040 | 290 | |
| 7 | Springfield | $94,330 | 40 | |
| 8 | Youngstown | $92,200 | 240 | |
| 9 | Sandusky | $90,710 | 40 | |
| 10 | Lima | $84,890 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Columbus run 7.2% below the national average, so the median of $98,920 goes as far as $106,595 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 6.2% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$98,920as reported by BLSLocal price level
92.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$106,595US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $98,920 a year, 1.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $65,060 to $119,710 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,370 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Dayton, at $103,840.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Occupational Therapists in Columbus, OH?
The median annual wage is $98,920, or $47.56 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $100,330, so pay in Columbus, OH is 1.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Columbus, OH earns more than $119,710 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $65,060 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Dayton, at $103,840 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,370 jobs in this occupation in Columbus, OH. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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