SOC 29-1122 · Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · May 2025
How much do Occupational Therapists make in Salinas, CA?
In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Occupational Therapists in Salinas, CA is $123,180. The 10th percentile is $83,720 and the 90th percentile is $153,920. Employment is 110.
Median annual wage
$123,180
- 10th percentile
- $83,720
- 25th percentile
- $104,090
- Median
- $123,180
- 75th percentile
- $147,680
- 90th percentile
- $153,920
- Mean
- $122,370
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.

Percentile spread
For Occupational Therapists, the published 10th percentile is $83,720 and the 90th percentile is $153,920. The difference is $70,200, which is 57.0% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.
The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $104,090 to the 75th at $147,680, covers $43,590.
The mean annual wage is $122,370, which sits below the median of $123,180. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.
National and state comparison
The Salinas, CA median is 22.8% higher than the national median of $100,330 for Occupational Therapists. In 2024 national prices the local median is $112,966, which is 12.6% higher than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.
It is 1.1% lower than the California median of $124,510.
Price-adjusted pay
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Salinas, CA is 109.042, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $123,180 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Occupational Therapists at $112,966 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.
Nearby metros
16 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Occupational Therapists. Salinas, CA ranks 9th of 17 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is 46 miles away, with a median of $136,870 and employment of 840. That median is 11.1% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $123,951, against $112,966 here.
- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA is 66 miles away, with a median of $130,420 and employment of 100. That median is 5.9% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $118,676, against $112,966 here.
- Merced, CA is 74 miles away, with a median of $117,970 and employment of 30. That median is 4.2% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $120,041, against $112,966 here.
Employment share
Occupational Therapists accounts for 0.06% of wage-and-salary employment in Salinas, CA (110 of 186,430). Nationally the occupation is 0.10% of employment (162,450 of 155,495,730). The local share is 0.56 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.
Highest-paying jobs in Salinas, CA · Occupational Therapists by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices
Questions this page answers
How much do Occupational Therapists make in Salinas, CA?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Occupational Therapists in Salinas, CA is $123,180. The 10th percentile is $83,720 and the 90th percentile is $153,920. Employment is 110.
How does that compare with the national median for Occupational Therapists?
The local median is 22.8% higher than the national median of $100,330.
What is Occupational Therapists pay in Salinas, CA after local prices?
The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Salinas, CA is 109.042, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $123,180 is $112,966. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.
How does Salinas, CA compare with nearby metros for Occupational Therapists?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 46 miles away, at $136,870. Salinas, CA ranks 9th of 17 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.