National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Occupational Therapists earn a national median of $96,320/year vs HVAC Technicians at $57,620/year. Occupational Therapists earn 40% more nationally. The gap is $38,700 per year — or $3,225 per month.
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Occupational Therapist
$96,320
national median/year
$8,027/mo • $46/hr
VS
HVAC Technician
$57,620
national median/year
$4,802/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$38,700
Occupational Therapists earn 40% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $438,676.
Best states for HVAC Technicians
vs Occupational Therapists
West Virginia+$-23,700
South Dakota+$-25,700
Wyoming+$-25,700
Illinois+$-27,700
Michigan+$-27,700
Best states for Occupational Therapists
vs HVAC Technicians
Florida+$37,700
Oregon+$37,700
California+$36,700
Arizona+$35,700
Georgia+$35,700
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Occupational Therapists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Occupational Therapists is $96,320 versus $57,620 for HVAC Technicians — a difference of $38,700 per year or $3,225 per month.
The national median salary gap between Occupational Therapists and HVAC Technicians is $38,700 per year. Occupational Therapists earn 40% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $438,676.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Occupational Therapists the highest median salary at $110,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Hawaii pays HVAC Technicians the highest median salary at $74,620 per year.
Salary is one factor — Occupational Therapists earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Occupational Therapists and Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Occupational Therapists earn approximately $46 per hour nationally and HVAC Technicians earn approximately $28 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
