Salary comparison
Occupational Therapists: Austin vs Modesto
Austin, TX pays about 0.8% more for occupational therapists on paper — $122,050 vs $121,110. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Austin comes out ahead by $940 a year in real buying power.
Austin, TX
$122,050
$98,480
$129,880
$58.68
100
$122,050/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Modesto, CA
$121,110
$106,300
$132,920
$58.23
100
$121,110/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $940 a year (0.8%) in favor of Austin. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Austin runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Modesto sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Austin is the better deal by $940 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Modesto to Austin for this role, the raise needs to beat 0.8% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do occupational therapists earn more, Austin or Modesto?
Austin pays $122,050 on median — about 0.8% more than Modesto ($121,110). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Austin. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Austin gives you roughly$122,050 of real buying power versus $121,110 in the other city.