Occupational Therapist Salary in Texas: $109,716 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Texas's 109 metropolitan areas, the average median occupational therapist pay sits at $109,716/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-1122. Because Texas sits at BEA RPP 96.0 (4% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $114,288 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: San Marcos ($124,896), Round Rock ($122,904), Austin ($122,050).

Occupational Therapist Salary in Texas - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — Texas occupational therapist salary overview (2026)

$109,716

Avg Median Salary

$52.75

Avg Hourly Rate

13,793

Metro Employed

109

Cities

In Texas, the average median salary for occupational therapists in 2026 is projected to be $109,716, which is 6.1% above the national median of $103,400. This indicates a healthy financial incentive for pursuing this career in the state. The salary range varies significantly between cities, with San Marcos offering the highest average salary at $128,718, while Tomball provides the lowest at $96,766. The difference in pay can be attributed to local demand for services, cost of living, and the concentration of healthcare facilities. Texas has specific licensing requirements and a comprehensive scope of practice for occupational therapists, which often influence salary levels. Additionally, the increasing demand for rehabilitation services, driven by an aging population and a focus on holistic healthcare, supports job growth in this field. The projected annual compound growth rate for occupational therapy positions in Texas is 3.06%, suggesting a stable job market. Notable employment cities include Round Rock with $126,665, Austin at $125,785, Longview at $116,210, and Odessa at $112,562, reflecting strong demand for occupational therapy services across various regions in Texas.

Texas Occupational Therapist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$77,829

avg across 109 cities

Median

$109,716

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$142,934

avg across 109 cities

Overall salary range in Texas: $42,347 (lowest entry-level) to $174,764 (highest top earner)

Texas vs National Average

Texas

$109,716

National Median

$103,400

Texas occupational therapists earn 6.11% more than the national median (+$6,316/year difference).

Texas Occupational Therapist Salary Distribution (2026)

Occupational Therapist salaries in Texas range from $77,829 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $142,934 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $109,716. The Texas median is $6,316 above the US national median of $103,400. The average hourly rate is $52.75/hr. Approximately 13,793 occupational therapists are employed across 109 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$83,333

2025 BLS Actual

$106,458

2026 Current Est.

$109,716

2019–2027 Growth

+35.7%

Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapists in Texas (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$83,333	Actual
2020	$87,092	Actual
2021	$95,306	Actual
2022	$95,828	Actual
2023	$98,745	Actual
2024	$100,649	Actual
2025	$106,458	Actual
2026(current)	$109,716	Estimated
2027	$113,073	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Texas metropolitan area, the median occupational therapist salary grew 27.8% from $83,333 (2019) to $106,458 (2025). At a 3.06% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $113,073 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,740 (35.69%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Texas metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.06% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Texas

San Marcos

13 employed · $61.89/hr

$128,718

+17.32% vs avg

Round Rock

26 employed · $60.90/hr

$126,665

+15.45% vs avg

Austin

1,600 employed · $60.48/hr

$125,785

+14.65% vs avg

Longview

130 employed · $55.87/hr

$116,210

+5.92% vs avg

Odessa

40 employed · $54.12/hr

$112,562

+2.59% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Texas

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Tomball	$96,766	-11.80%	$46.52
Murphy	$97,543	-11.10%	$46.89
Horizon City	$98,202	-10.49%	$47.21
Stephenville	$98,630	-10.10%	$47.42
Temple	$99,189	-9.59%	$47.69

Best Value Cities for Occupational Therapists in Texas

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Texas cities offer the most purchasing power for occupational therapists.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
San Marcos	$128,718	96	$134,081
Round Rock	$126,665	96	$131,943
Texarkana	$109,305	84.012	$130,106
Longview	$116,210	89.485	$129,865
Austin	$125,785	98.066	$128,266

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Texas

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$77,829	$37.42	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$109,716	$52.75	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$142,934	$68.72	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Texas metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 109 Cities in Texas

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	San Marcos	$128,718	$61.89	$91,571	$165,855	13
2	Round Rock	$126,665	$60.90	$85,482	$174,764	26
3	Austin	$125,785	$60.48	$82,489	$135,009	1,600
4	Longview	$116,210	$55.87	$57,188	$150,076	130
5	Odessa	$112,562	$54.12	$87,271	$136,307	40
6	New Braunfels	$111,907	$53.80	$76,990	$144,999	15
7	Port Arthur	$111,569	$53.64	$79,756	$143,669	12
8	San Antonio	$110,944	$53.33	$78,006	$135,648	1,780
9	Irving	$110,586	$53.17	$73,955	$148,280	51
10	Plano	$110,222	$52.99	$73,469	$146,643	57
11	Garland	$109,648	$52.72	$72,311	$156,250	43
12	Dallas	$109,357	$52.57	$79,315	$150,241	3,450
13	Texarkana	$109,305	$52.55	$75,440	$139,337	70
14	Frisco	$109,256	$52.53	$71,347	$154,866	38
15	Beaumont	$109,068	$52.44	$74,688	$150,241	120
16	Midland	$108,904	$52.35	$76,625	$141,883	70
17	Fort Worth	$108,644	$52.23	$77,370	$151,589	219
18	Abilene	$107,945	$51.90	$80,500	$136,390	90
19	Corpus Christi	$107,337	$51.60	$74,110	$135,421	160
20	Arlington	$107,148	$51.51	$71,094	$146,425	83
21	Conroe	$107,019	$51.45	$76,778	$137,879	15
22	Victoria	$106,976	$51.43	$70,215	$134,184	100
23	Richardson	$106,820	$51.35	$71,419	$139,521	24
24	Carrollton	$106,802	$51.34	$71,380	$146,662	20
25	Houston	$106,750	$51.32	$81,201	$145,026	2,700
26	Grand Prairie	$106,624	$51.26	$70,873	$145,772	43
27	Galveston	$105,841	$50.88	$73,914	$137,835	10
28	DeSoto	$105,765	$50.85	$73,739	$144,302	9
29	Missouri City	$105,657	$50.80	$73,596	$144,205	12
30	Amarillo	$105,513	$50.73	$67,308	$143,305	130
31	The Woodlands	$105,473	$50.71	$75,999	$141,789	21
32	Pasadena	$105,353	$50.65	$76,150	$141,113	32
33	Sugar Land	$105,208	$50.58	$76,097	$141,261	21
34	Allen	$105,200	$50.58	$75,973	$140,958	19
35	League City	$105,106	$50.53	$75,443	$140,918	22
36	Cedar Park	$105,059	$50.51	$72,112	$141,903	12
37	Georgetown	$105,022	$50.49	$71,702	$142,061	12
38	Mission	$104,999	$50.48	$72,708	$142,500	22
39	Baytown	$104,980	$50.47	$72,036	$135,252	16
40	Denton	$104,918	$50.44	$75,441	$140,290	33
41	Wylie	$104,905	$50.44	$71,434	$135,004	10
42	Cleburne	$104,889	$50.43	$77,522	$134,793	7
43	Mesquite	$104,876	$50.42	$75,344	$140,148	21
44	Wichita Falls	$104,833	$50.41	$68,349	$143,449	70
45	Pharr	$104,797	$50.39	$71,615	$141,036	18
46	McKinney	$104,782	$50.38	$74,711	$139,835	44
47	El Paso	$104,637	$50.30	$66,247	$139,203	320
48	Waco	$104,606	$50.29	$73,018	$135,854	130
49	Pearland	$104,569	$50.27	$74,546	$138,851	19
50	Burleson	$104,497	$50.24	$76,680	$130,136	11
51	Pflugerville	$104,362	$50.17	$70,623	$139,848	16
52	Tyler	$104,317	$50.16	$79,181	$139,255	160
53	Cedar Hill	$104,316	$50.15	$76,245	$133,247	8
54	Sherman	$104,245	$50.12	$68,329	$133,421	80
55	Harlingen	$104,171	$50.09	$73,615	$133,076	14
56	McAllen	$104,070	$50.04	$73,296	$162,010	340
57	Flower Mound	$104,061	$50.03	$78,265	$138,847	12
58	Kyle	$103,994	$49.99	$78,108	$138,357	13
59	Del Rio	$103,874	$49.94	$75,072	$127,878	9
60	Coppell	$103,629	$49.82	$74,594	$137,145	8
61	Forney	$103,465	$49.75	$74,203	$130,489	6
62	Rowlett	$103,359	$49.70	$73,186	$136,520	15
63	The Colony	$103,203	$49.61	$73,580	$129,391	9
64	Anna	$103,162	$49.59	$73,482	$135,871	4
65	Huntsville	$103,048	$49.54	$73,210	$135,240	11
66	Mansfield	$102,724	$49.39	$74,735	$134,432	18
67	Weatherford	$102,703	$49.38	$72,397	$127,791	9
68	Euless	$102,657	$49.36	$75,002	$134,214	14
69	San Angelo	$102,617	$49.33	$82,634	$129,608	50
70	Weslaco	$102,589	$49.32	$72,126	$133,747	9
71	Hurst	$102,540	$49.29	$72,010	$127,524	9
72	Grapevine	$102,415	$49.24	$74,444	$137,158	12
73	Leander	$102,389	$49.22	$73,967	$133,339	11
74	Little Elm	$102,384	$49.22	$71,644	$127,029	12
75	Brownsville	$102,349	$49.20	$75,337	$140,182	140
76	Lancaster	$102,294	$49.18	$71,433	$133,045	8
77	North Richland Hills	$102,222	$49.15	$74,003	$132,795	17
78	Duncanville	$102,205	$49.14	$71,222	$132,755	8
79	Copperas Cove	$102,008	$49.05	$79,175	$132,119	7
80	Friendswood	$101,991	$49.04	$78,704	$132,065	8
81	Edinburg	$101,568	$48.83	$71,668	$134,037	22
82	Seguin	$101,566	$48.83	$78,001	$130,443	7
83	Rockwall	$101,426	$48.76	$77,773	$130,248	12
84	Corinth	$101,320	$48.72	$76,819	$122,385	6
85	Schertz	$101,230	$48.66	$74,150	$129,367	6
86	Corsicana	$101,146	$48.62	$76,384	$121,596	6
87	San Juan	$101,074	$48.59	$76,929	$132,698	9
88	Kingsville	$101,066	$48.59	$76,910	$128,844	5
89	Prosper	$101,041	$48.58	$76,851	$129,017	7
90	College Station	$100,865	$48.49	$78,387	$132,803	120
91	Sachse	$100,788	$48.46	$76,246	$128,208	5
92	Bastrop	$100,773	$48.45	$75,457	$124,134	6
93	Socorro	$100,599	$48.37	$75,691	$130,918	5
94	Eagle Pass	$100,411	$48.27	$74,928	$127,012	5
95	Keller	$100,264	$48.20	$75,003	$126,545	7
96	Lufkin	$100,149	$48.15	$74,732	$125,934	8
97	Haltom City	$100,141	$48.15	$74,607	$125,847	11
98	Nacogdoches	$100,141	$48.15	$74,607	$125,909	7
99	Benbrook	$100,059	$48.11	$73,696	$127,874	6
100	Killeen	$100,009	$48.09	$73,039	$137,781	200
101	University Park	$99,964	$48.06	$73,463	$127,573	5
102	Laredo	$99,721	$47.94	$42,347	$142,996	70
103	Lubbock	$99,515	$47.84	$69,617	$131,680	190
104	Fredericksburg	$99,336	$47.76	$77,303	$125,591	5
105	Temple	$99,189	$47.69	$73,903	$131,473	14
106	Stephenville	$98,630	$47.42	$78,620	$117,489	6
107	Horizon City	$98,202	$47.21	$77,450	$121,808	6
108	Murphy	$97,543	$46.89	$75,934	$123,119	5
109	Tomball	$96,766	$46.52	$74,038	$117,627	5

More Texas Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore occupational therapist hourly pay in Texas cities.

San Marcos →Round Rock →Austin →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new occupational therapists.

San Marcos →Round Rock →Austin →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced occupational therapists.

San Marcos →Round Rock →Austin →

Compare Cities in Texas

Dallas, TXvsHouston, TX Dallas, TXvsSan Antonio, TX Dallas, TXvsAustin, TX Houston, TXvsSan Antonio, TX Houston, TXvsAustin, TX Dallas, TXvsMcallen, TX

View all comparisons →

Explore More Occupational Therapist Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do occupational therapists make in Texas in 2026?

The average median occupational therapist salary in Texas is $109,716/year across 109 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $96,766 in Tomball to $128,718 in San Marcos. This makes Texas one of the higher-paying states, at 6.11% above the national median of $103,400. The state employs approximately 13,793 occupational therapists.

What is the highest paying city for occupational therapists in Texas?

San Marcos offers the highest occupational therapist salary in Texas at $128,718/year ($61.89/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are San Marcos ($128,718), Round Rock ($126,665), Austin ($125,785). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for occupational therapy services, and competition among employers for licensed occupational therapists.

How does Texas occupational therapist pay compare to the national average?

Texas's average occupational therapist salary of $109,716 is 6.11% above the national median of $103,400 in 2026. The state employs approximately 13,793 occupational therapists across 109 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level occupational therapist salary in Texas?

Entry-level occupational therapists (10th percentile) in Texas earn approximately $77,829/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $42,347 in lower-paying areas to $91,571 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many occupational therapists are employed in Texas?

Texas employs approximately 13,793 occupational therapists across 109 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Texas one of the larger employers of occupational therapists nationally. Demand continues to grow as the occupational therapy field expands and the population ages.

Which Texas city offers the best value for occupational therapists?

When adjusted for cost of living, San Marcos offers the highest purchasing power for occupational therapists in Texas, with an adjusted salary of $134,081 (nominal: $128,718, CoL index: 96). This means your dollar goes 4% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

Written by Jordan Miller, OTR/L

Career Analyst

Jordan has 10 years of experience in occupational therapy. They specialize in pediatrics and work in a rehabilitation clinic.

Clinically reviewed by Sofia Chen, OTR/LData verified by Luis Garcia, OTR/L

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.06% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 occupational therapist compensation across Texas. State averages are employment-weighted across 109 metro areas — larger metro areas with more occupational therapistscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.06%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for occupational therapists (SOC 29-1122).

Compiled and verified by Jordan Miller, OTR/L, a licensed occupational therapist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

Share:Facebook X LinkedIn Email