National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Occupational Therapists earn a national median of $96,320/year vs Paralegals at $59,200/year. Occupational Therapists earn 39% more nationally. The gap is $37,120 per year — or $3,093 per month.
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Occupational Therapist
$96,320
national median/year
$8,027/mo • $46/hr
VS
Paralegal
$59,200
national median/year
$4,933/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$37,120
Occupational Therapists earn 39% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $420,766.
Best states for Paralegals
vs Occupational Therapists
Colorado+$-32,120
Delaware+$-32,120
Georgia+$-32,120
Illinois+$-32,120
Maryland+$-32,120
Best states for Occupational Therapists
vs Paralegals
Alaska+$48,120
Hawaii+$42,120
Oregon+$40,120
Washington+$40,120
Alabama+$36,120
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Occupational Therapists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Occupational Therapists is $96,320 versus $59,200 for Paralegals — a difference of $37,120 per year or $3,093 per month.
The national median salary gap between Occupational Therapists and Paralegals is $37,120 per year. Occupational Therapists earn 39% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $420,766.
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, California pays Paralegals the highest median salary at $76,200 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 Paralegals and Legal Assistants 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 Paralegals 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.
