Occupational Therapists Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $97,840 -0.5% vs national
Median hourly $47.04
10th percentile $61,700
90th percentile $115,010
Employed locally 110
National median $98,340

Compare Occupational Therapists salary & buying power

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Occupational Therapists
in
Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $61,700
    25th
    $78,360
    50th (median)
    $97,840
    75th
    $104,800
    90th
    $115,010

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Occupational Therapists salary vs area income 162% Median Occupational Therapists salary is 62% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Occupational Therapists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $134,720
    Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $133,850
    Vallejo, CA $129,830
    Chico, CA $128,980
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $128,960
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $126,220

    Nearby metros — Occupational Therapists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $128,960
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $105,050
    Grand Junction, CO $103,520
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $101,840
    Florence, SC $101,000
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $100,690

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $77,680
    Pharmacy Technicians $38,420
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $61,310
    Emergency Medical Technicians $44,340
    Physicians, All Other $313,460
    Radiologic Technologists and Technicians $63,480

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Occupational Therapists make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Occupational Therapists in Hickory, NC is $47.04, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $56.93 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Occupational Therapists salaries?

    The median Occupational Therapists salary in Hickory, NC is 0.5% below the national median of $98,340. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Occupational Therapists in Hickory?

    Entry-level Occupational Therapists (10th percentile) earn around $61,700 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $78,360.