Occupational Therapist salary in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Occupational Therapists in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn a median of $98,450 a year ($47.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,140 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $121,090 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $100,330. Pay here is 6% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $92,940. There are 0.84 occupational therapists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.80). The average (mean) salary is $95,960, close to the median.
Pay range for occupational therapists in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,710 | $30.63 |
| 25th percentile | $81,030 | $38.96 |
| Median | $98,450 | $47.33 |
| 75th percentile | $108,960 | $52.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $121,090 | $58.21 |
| Average (mean) | $95,960 | $46.14 |
Half of occupational therapists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,204.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,102.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,786.54 |
| Weekly | $1,893.27 |
| Hourly | $47.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $98,450 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Occupational Therapist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg, SC | $111,540 | 210 |
| Columbia, SC | $102,650 | 280 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $102,340 | 400 |
| Florence, SC | $101,510 | 80 |
| Greenville, NC | $101,360 | 130 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $100,820 | 70 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $100,780 | 40 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $100,760 | 100 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $100,160 | 120 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $99,880 | 260 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $99,400 | 830 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $98,530 | 320 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $96,820 | 270 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $93,780 | 260 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $86,870 | 30 |
| Wilmington, NC | $86,420 | 260 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $85,540 | 40 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $84,080 | 680 |
| Asheville, NC | $83,660 | 210 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $83,160 | 390 |
| Burlington, NC | $82,640 | 80 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $81,450 | 50 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $81,240 | 200 |
Highest-paying states for occupational therapists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $124,510 |
| Oregon | $112,310 |
| Nevada | $110,520 |
| District of Columbia | $109,170 |
| Washington | $107,670 |
| Maryland | $106,980 |
| Colorado | $106,720 |
| Arkansas | $106,360 |
| Texas | $106,140 |
| Oklahoma | $104,300 |
See Occupational Therapist pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $90,620 | $43.57 |
| Pharmacist | $150,580 | $72.40 |
| Physicians, All Other | $327,040 | $157.23 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $130,310 | $62.65 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,390 | $47.30 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,060 | $48.59 |
| Physician Assistant | $133,140 | $64.01 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $90,960 | $43.73 |
| Dentists, General | $189,220 | $90.97 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,020 | $39.43 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $277,550 | $133.44 |
| Veterinarian | $129,080 | $62.06 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $74,930 | $36.03 |
| Anesthesiologist | $239,200+ | $115.00+ |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1122. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a occupational therapist make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The median salary for occupational therapists in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area is $98,450 a year, or $47.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $63,710 for the lowest-paid 10% to $121,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid occupational therapists make in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
The top 10% of occupational therapists in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area earn at least $121,090 a year. The top 25% earn $108,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for occupational therapists in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,710 a year, and a quarter of occupational therapists earn $81,030 or less.
How many occupational therapists work in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC?
About 1,140 occupational therapists are employed in the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.