Occupational Therapists pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $127,900 or more. The middle half of occupational therapists in Charleston earn between $82,590 and $120,430.
- $63K10th
- $83K25th
- $99KMedian
- $120K75th
- $128K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $97,710 | $8,142 | $46.98 |
| Median | $98,530 | $8,211 | $47.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,590 | $6,882 | $39.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $120,430 | $10,036 | $57.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Occupational Therapists pay in Charleston vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Occupational therapists in Charleston earn about the same as the South Carolina average ($97,180) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($101,280). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $100,330.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $97,710 | $98,530 | $63,200 | $127,900 | 320 |
| South Carolina | $97,180 | $101,130 | $75,370 | $123,110 | 1,840 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $97,710, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $73,444 a year, or $6,120 a month and $2,825 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for occupational therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.0), so the average $97,710 buys what about $96,779 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($49,150). A typical home costs $435,877, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Occupational Therapists salary in other South Carolina cities
Charleston ranks 2nd of 7 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Spartanburg pays the most ($101,290).
- Spartanburg$101,290
- Charleston$97,710
- Hilton Head Island$97,570
- Greenville$97,240
- Columbia$96,940
- Florence$95,920
- Myrtle Beach$92,350
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 Charleston: questions
How much do occupational therapists make an hour in Charleston?
$46.98 an hour on average, and $47.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level occupational therapists salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the occupational therapists take-home pay in Charleston?
About $73,444 a year ($6,120 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $97,710.
Do occupational therapists earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC (16700). 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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