National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Occupational Therapists earn a national median of $96,320/year vs Veterinarians at $119,100/year. Veterinarians earn 24% more nationally. The gap is $22,780 per year — or $1,898 per month.
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Occupational Therapist
$96,320
national median/year
$8,027/mo • $46/hr
VS
Veterinarian
$119,100
national median/year
$9,925/mo • $57/hr
Annual salary gap
$22,780
Veterinarians earn 24% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $258,218.
Best states for Veterinarians
vs Occupational Therapists
California+$37,780
New York+$29,780
Colorado+$27,780
Connecticut+$27,780
Maryland+$27,780
Best states for Occupational Therapists
vs Veterinarians
Mississippi+$-11,780
Arkansas+$-13,780
Alabama+$-15,780
West Virginia+$-15,780
Oklahoma+$-17,780
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Veterinarians earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Occupational Therapists is $96,320 versus $119,100 for Veterinarians — a difference of $22,780 per year or $1,898 per month.
The national median salary gap between Occupational Therapists and Veterinarians is $22,780 per year. Veterinarians earn 24% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $258,218.
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 Veterinarians the highest median salary at $148,100 per year.
Salary is one factor — Veterinarians earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Occupational Therapists and Veterinarians 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 Veterinarians earn approximately $57 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.
