Occupational Therapists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,160 or more. The middle half of occupational therapists in Chicago earn between $82,390 and $111,170.
- $74K10th
- $82K25th
- $100KMedian
- $111K75th
- $136K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $101,400 | $8,450 | $48.75 |
| Median | $99,860 | $8,322 | $48.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,390 | $6,866 | $39.61 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $111,170 | $9,264 | $53.45 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Occupational Therapists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Occupational therapists in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($99,570) and about the same as the U.S. average ($101,280). At the median the gap is -0% against the U.S. median of $100,330.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $101,400 | $99,860 | $73,900 | $136,160 | 5,960 |
| Illinois | $99,570 | $99,700 | $73,360 | $132,180 | 7,710 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $101,400, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $75,287 a year, or $6,274 a month and $2,896 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $77,153 | $6,429 |
| Working in IL | $75,287 | $6,274 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for occupational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $101,400 buys what about $97,881 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Occupational Therapists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 7 Illinois metro areas for this job; Springfield pays the most ($102,250).
- Springfield$102,250
- Chicago$101,400
- Rockford$95,530
- Peoria$95,490
- Bloomington$90,070
- Champaign$87,710
- Kankakee$87,200
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 Chicago: questions
How much do occupational therapists make an hour in Chicago?
$48.75 an hour on average, and $48.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level occupational therapists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the occupational therapists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $75,287 a year ($6,274 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $101,400.
Do occupational therapists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.26, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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