Arkansas · SOC 29-1122

Occupational Therapists in Arkansas

State salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Geography used: wage and employment figures are BLS state estimates for Arkansas; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.

Median Salary

$106,360

per year in this state

+6% above

National Median

$100,330

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$51.14/hr

median hourly

Employment

2,160

jobs in AR

Salary Range in Arkansas

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$65,160
25th$81,810
Median$106,360
75th$128,220
90th$144,250

What This Means for Occupational Therapists in Arkansas

According to BLS OEWS state estimates, Arkansas ranks #8 of 52 states and territories for Occupational Therapists pay, the top 15% nationally. Occupational Therapists working in Arkansas earn a median salary of $106,360, which is +6% above the national median of $100,330. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. The reported wage distribution runs from $65,160 at the 10th percentile to $144,250 at the 90th. OEWS does not separate how much of that spread comes from experience, specialization, employer, industry, schedule, or local market differences.

This page captures the Occupational Therapists labor market inside Arkansas using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $106,360 ($51.14/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 2,160 workers in this SOC code (29-1122). Relative to the national median of $100,330, the state estimate is +6% above. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.

Within Arkansas, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $65,160, the 25th earns $81,810, the 75th reaches $128,220, and the 90th hits $144,250. The upper boundary is roughly 2.2× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.

Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within Arkansas where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.

Top Paying Jobs in Arkansas

Similar Occupations in Arkansas

Other roles in the same SOC major group, priced for this state's labor market.

Other states with similar Occupational Therapists pay or employment

Two OEWS peer sets for this SOC code outside Arkansas. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.

Similar median pay

Nearest state medians ($106,360 here).

Similar employment scale

Nearest headcount peers (2,160 jobs here; floor 1,000).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS state median annual wage and reported employment for SOC 29-1122. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Related federal data for Arkansas

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Occupational Therapists make in Arkansas?
The median annual salary for Occupational Therapists in Arkansas is $106,360 (+6% above national avg). Pay ranges from $65,160 (10th percentile) to $144,250 (90th percentile).
How many Occupational Therapists work in Arkansas?
There are approximately 2,160 Occupational Therapists employed in Arkansas, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly rate for Occupational Therapists in Arkansas?
The median hourly wage for Occupational Therapists in Arkansas is $51.14/hr.
Where does WageDex get its salary data?
All salary and employment data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Data Sources

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release).

Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Wage estimates include straight-time pay plus items such as tips, commissions, and production bonuses. They exclude employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses. Employment figures represent the estimated number of workers in the occupation across all industries in Arkansas.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's Arkansas figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.