In Phoenix, AZ, occupational therapists earn a median of $105,060 a year, according to the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. It runs 7% above the national median of $98,035 for this occupation — pay here is notably stronger than the U.S. average. The middle 50% land between $85,970 and $123,640 — a 37,670 range that reflects differences in seniority, employer type, and specialization. The average (mean) of $105,650 comes in higher than the median, which usually means a share of high earners is pulling the average up. The catch: Phoenix is roughly in line with the national cost of living (cost index 100 against a 100 baseline), so that headline number buys less than it would elsewhere. On an hourly basis that is about $50.51, useful for comparing contract or part-time offers.

For context, the national median for occupational therapists across all U.S. metros in our data is $98,035.