Occupational Therapist.
San Diego.
$117,000
median salary, 19% above the national average
$95,000 to $131,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Orbyt estimates Occupational Therapist pay in San Diego at $117,000, within a range of $95,000 to $131,000. That is 19% above the national average. San Diego's economy thrives on defense, biotech, and a growing tech startup scene. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Occupational Therapist in San Diego, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $121,680 for Occupational Therapists (SOC 29-1122) in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metropolitan area, based on 1,620 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$92,790
25th percentile
$105,510
Median
$121,680
75th percentile
$130,410
90th percentile
$152,150
Workers surveyed
1,620
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Occupational Therapists (SOC 29-1122) rather than Occupational Therapist specifically. The San Diego range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 29-1122Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $105,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$76,000
to $94,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$99,000
to $123,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$129,000
to $152,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$146,000
to $181,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $31,000 to the total package.
Base
$117,000
Equity
$18,000
Bonus
$11,000
Signing
$2,000
Estimated total: $148,000
How San Diego compares.
San Diego, CA
$117,000
Cost of living: 17% above average
National Average
$98,000
San Diego is $19,000 above
Occupational Therapist salary by city.
Salary by role in San Diego.
What you should know.
If you are interviewing for Occupational Therapist roles in San Diego, here is what you are walking into. San Diego's economy thrives on defense, biotech, and a growing tech startup scene. The city's proximity to major military installations drives strong aerospace and cybersecurity demand. Biotech companies along the Torrey Pines corridor compete aggressively for scientific and engineering talent, pushing specialized salaries close to Bay Area levels. Practice setting is the primary salary driver, with acute care hospitals and home health paying above outpatient and school-based roles. Hand therapy certification commands a notable premium. States with higher Medicaid reimbursement rates and metropolitan areas with greater demand also push compensation upward.
New OTs start around $68,000 to $78,000 depending on setting. Mid-career OTs with specialty certifications reach $88,000 to $100,000. OT directors or program managers in hospital systems can earn $105,000 to $125,000 with administrative and clinical oversight responsibilities. In San Diego, those numbers run higher. The cost of living here is 17% above average, and employers adjust to compete.
Base salary is not the full picture. OTs typically receive CEU allowances, student loan assistance programs, and comprehensive health benefits. Some employers offer productivity bonuses tied to billable units, adding $3,000 to $8,000 annually for high-performing therapists. And on the tax side: california's top 13.3% state tax applies here. While San Diego has no city income tax, the state burden means you should negotiate gross pay higher than you might expect for the cost of living. When someone quotes you $117,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage defense and biotech sector demand. Candidates with security clearances or specialized science backgrounds can command 15 to 20% premiums in San Diego. The range for Occupational Therapists in San Diego runs from $95,000 to $131,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- An Environmental Engineer in San Diego earns $118,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in San Diego is CTO at $347,000
Common questions.
Occupational Therapist salary in other cities.
Other salaries in San Diego.
Related salary pages
Jump to nearby roles and cities most relevant to Occupational Therapists in San Diego.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Occupational Therapist Salary in San Diego, CA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/occupational-therapist/san-diego
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