Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in the U.S.
Occupational Therapy Assistants in the U.S. earn a median of $72,300 a year ($34.76 an hour), based on BLS data for 51,290 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,780 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $70,710, close to the median.
Pay range for occupational therapy assistants in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,490 | $24.76 |
| 25th percentile | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Median | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| 75th percentile | $79,160 | $38.06 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,780 | $43.16 |
| Average (mean) | $70,710 | $33.99 |
Half of occupational therapy assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,025 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,012.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,780.77 |
| Weekly | $1,390.38 |
| Hourly | $34.76 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Occupational Therapy Assistant salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $82,010 | 710 |
| California | $81,770 | 3,840 |
| Texas | $81,500 | 5,610 |
| Nevada | $79,510 | 220 |
| Arkansas | $78,940 | 730 |
| Delaware | $78,640 | 220 |
| Washington | $77,590 | 720 |
| New Mexico | $77,020 | 300 |
| Oregon | $76,850 | 250 |
| Georgia | $75,920 | 1,060 |
| Colorado | $75,340 | 710 |
| Massachusetts | $75,040 | 1,410 |
| New Jersey | $74,960 | 1,080 |
| Virginia | $74,960 | 1,130 |
| South Carolina | $73,740 | 830 |
| Arizona | $73,490 | 1,120 |
| Montana | $72,800 | 60 |
| Connecticut | $72,780 | 820 |
| Hawaii | $72,710 | 60 |
| Florida | $71,630 | 3,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,590 | 2,560 |
| North Carolina | $69,390 | 1,590 |
| New York | $68,530 | 2,230 |
| New Hampshire | $67,790 | 150 |
| Rhode Island | $66,710 | 300 |
| Indiana | $66,660 | 1,490 |
| Oklahoma | $66,520 | 1,000 |
| District of Columbia | $66,390 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $66,090 | 760 |
| Utah | $66,080 | 280 |
| Missouri | $66,070 | 1,470 |
| Idaho | $65,330 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $65,230 | 500 |
| Kansas | $65,010 | 660 |
| Minnesota | $64,920 | 540 |
| Maine | $64,270 | 250 |
| Iowa | $64,140 | 400 |
| Illinois | $64,120 | 2,470 |
| Michigan | $63,260 | 1,250 |
| Nebraska | $63,180 | 210 |
| Wyoming | $62,750 | 80 |
| Ohio | $62,700 | 3,890 |
| Tennessee | $62,420 | 1,300 |
| Alabama | $62,250 | 750 |
| Mississippi | $61,650 | 420 |
| North Dakota | $60,970 | 130 |
| West Virginia | $60,370 | 340 |
| Wisconsin | $59,960 | 1,050 |
| South Dakota | $56,180 | 100 |
| Alaska | $53,530 | 60 |
Best-paying metro areas for occupational therapy assistants
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $97,860 | 290 |
| Modesto, CA | $96,210 | 30 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $95,370 | 160 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $95,190 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $95,180 | 170 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $88,250 | 420 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $86,440 | 40 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $86,040 | 80 |
| Boulder, CO | $84,860 | 50 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $84,400 | 60 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $82,680 | 360 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $82,620 | 310 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $82,610 | 70 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $82,060 | 80 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $81,500 | 1,190 |
Metro areas with the most occupational therapy assistants
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,200 | $74,960 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 1,720 | $78,090 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,710 | $67,840 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,220 | $81,170 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 1,190 | $81,500 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,090 | $71,310 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 940 | $76,440 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 900 | $81,340 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 850 | $75,300 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 800 | $76,080 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 780 | $67,450 |
| Cleveland, OH | 720 | $62,700 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 700 | $67,290 |
| Columbus, OH | 610 | $63,480 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 590 | $78,180 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $35,240 | $16.94 |
| Occupational Therapy Aide | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| Massage Therapist | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Orderly | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $40,410 | $19.43 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a occupational therapy assistant make in the U.S.?
The median salary for occupational therapy assistants in the U.S. is $72,300 a year, or $34.76 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $89,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid occupational therapy assistants make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of occupational therapy assistants in the U.S. earn at least $89,780 a year. The top 25% earn $79,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for occupational therapy assistants in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,490 a year, and a quarter of occupational therapy assistants earn $61,710 or less.
How many occupational therapy assistants work in the U.S.?
About 51,290 occupational therapy assistants are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.