Utility Pages
Salary Comparison

Recruiter vs Occupational Therapist Salary

Occupational Therapists earn approximately 50.8% more than Recruiters nationally — $95,000 vs $63,000.

Recruiter
$63,000
national median annual
Hourly (40 hr × 52 wk)
$30
Biweekly (26 paychecks)
$2,423
Monthly
$5,250
Category
Business
Occupational Therapist
$95,000
national median annual
Hourly (40 hr × 52 wk)
$46
Biweekly (26 paychecks)
$3,654
Monthly
$7,917
Category
Healthcare
Difference
Annual difference
Occupational Therapist earn more than Recruiter
+$32,000
Percentage difference
+50.8%
Hourly difference
+$15/hour
Monthly difference
+$2,667/month
Lifetime difference (40-yr career)
Naive — doesn't include compounding raises
+$1,280,000
Reverse
→ Occupational Therapist vs Recruiter — see this comparison from the other direction

Recruiter vs Occupational Therapist: salary breakdown

On a national-median basis, Occupational Therapists out-earn Recruiters by $32,000 per year — a 50.8% gap. That works out to roughly $2,667/month or $15/hour of difference.

Important context: these are MEDIANS — the middle salary in the country. Real-world variation is wide: entry-level roles in either career may pay 25-35% below median, while senior roles or specialized niches can pay 50-100%+ above. Your specific numbers depend on experience, location, employer, and credentials.

When does the salary gap matter most?

For someone choosing between these careers, the $32,000 annual difference compounds:

  • Over 10 years: ~$320,000 in raw salary difference
  • Over 40 years: ~$1,280,000 (without raises or compounding)
  • With 3% annual raises: the gap typically grows because the higher-paid role's raises are also larger in dollar terms
  • With investment compounding: the $32,000/year extra invested at 7% over 40 years grows to roughly $6,368,000 — significantly more than the raw difference

But salary isn't everything. Job satisfaction, work-life balance, growth potential, and career switching costs all matter. A career you can sustain for decades beats a higher-paying one you'll burn out on.

By state and city — significant variation

National medians are starting points. Real salaries vary 30%+ by location:

  • Recruiter in California ≈ $74,340 (1.18× national)
  • Recruiter in Mississippi ≈ $52,920 (0.84× national)
  • Occupational Therapist in California ≈ $112,100
  • Occupational Therapist in Mississippi ≈ $79,800

Use our Recruiter salary by state pages to drill into specific locations.

Other comparisons in Business

Recruiter vs Project Manager
National median: $98,000
Recruiter vs HR Manager
National median: $130,000
Recruiter vs Office Manager
National median: $54,000
Recruiter vs Administrative Assistant
National median: $44,000

Other comparisons in Healthcare

Occupational Therapist vs Registered Nurse
National median: $86,000
Occupational Therapist vs Physician (Doctor)
National median: $230,000
Occupational Therapist vs Dentist
National median: $164,000
Occupational Therapist vs Pharmacist
National median: $128,000

Related tools

Recruiter salary by state — Occupational Therapist salary by state — Best cities for Recruiter — Best cities for Occupational Therapist — Paycheck Calculator — Investment Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more, a Recruiter or a Occupational Therapist?▾
Nationally, Occupational Therapists earn approximately $95,000/year vs $63,000 for Recruiters — a difference of $32,000 or 50.8%. Both numbers are medians; entry-level and senior roles in either field can vary widely from these figures.
What's the hourly difference?▾
Recruiter: $30/hour. Occupational Therapist: $46/hour. Difference: $15/hour at standard 2,080 hours/year. This matters more for hourly-paid roles than salaried.
Are these national or state-specific salaries?▾
These are US national medians. Real salaries vary 30%+ by state and metro. A Recruiter in San Francisco earns more than one in rural Mississippi, even with the same title. See our salary-by-state and salary-by-city pages for location-specific numbers.
Should I switch from Recruiter to Occupational Therapist?▾
Salary is one factor. Also consider: education/training cost (some careers require years of school), job security and growth outlook, work-life balance, fit with your interests and strengths, and geographic flexibility. A higher-paying career you'll burn out on isn't worth more than a moderately-paid one you enjoy.
How do these salaries grow with experience?▾
Most professions see 30-50% growth from entry-level to senior over a 10-15 year career. Leadership roles (manager, director, executive) can double base salaries on top of that. Specialized skills (rare languages, niche expertise) command premium pay regardless of years. Continuous learning matters more than tenure alone.