Occupational Therapist salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 386 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Chicago,, Joliet,, Niles, Northbrook, Skokie.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $71,968 |
| 25th | $71,968 |
| 50th (median) | $71,968 |
| 75th | $72,114 |
| 90th | $72,114 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 3 |
| FY2023 | $60,840 | $60,840 | $62,400 | 13 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2025 | $72,114 | $72,114 | $72,114 | 124 |
| FY2026 | $71,968 | $71,968 | $71,968 | 262 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Occupational Therapist salary of $71,968 is worth about $69,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Occupational Therapists in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $99,860 in May 2025 (5,960 employed). The H-1B median here is $71,968, 28% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Grandison Management | $71,968 | 380 |
| Functional Pathways of TN | too few | 2 |
| The Stepping Stones Group | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $71,968 | 382 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 2 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $71,968 | $71,968 | 382 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.