South Carolina · SOC 31-2012

Occupational Therapy Aides in South Carolina

State salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

Share: Post LinkedIn

Geography used: wage and employment figures are BLS state estimates for South Carolina; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.

Median Salary

$31,950

per year in this state

18% below

National Median

$39,160

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$15.36/hr

median hourly

Employment

50

jobs in SC

Salary Range in South Carolina

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$18,290
25th$29,770
Median$31,950
75th$33,770
90th$82,800

What This Means for Occupational Therapy Aides in South Carolina

According to BLS OEWS state estimates, South Carolina ranks #24 of 27 states and territories for Occupational Therapy Aides pay, the bottom 12% nationally. Occupational Therapy Aides working in South Carolina earn a median salary of $31,950, which is 18% below the national median of $39,160. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. The reported wage distribution runs from $18,290 at the 10th percentile to $82,800 at the 90th. OEWS does not separate how much of that spread comes from experience, specialization, employer, industry, schedule, or local market differences.

This page captures the Occupational Therapy Aides labor market inside South Carolina using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $31,950 ($15.36/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 50 workers in this SOC code (31-2012). Relative to the national median of $39,160, the state estimate is 18% below. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.

Within South Carolina, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $18,290, the 25th earns $29,770, the 75th reaches $33,770, and the 90th hits $82,800. The upper boundary is roughly 4.5× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.

Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within South Carolina where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.

Top Paying Jobs in South Carolina

Similar Occupations in South Carolina

Other roles in the same SOC major group, priced for this state's labor market.

Other states with similar Occupational Therapy Aides pay or employment

Two OEWS peer sets for this SOC code outside South Carolina. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS state median annual wage and reported employment for SOC 31-2012. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Related federal data for South Carolina

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Occupational Therapy Aides make in South Carolina?
The median annual salary for Occupational Therapy Aides in South Carolina is $31,950 (18% below national avg). Pay ranges from $18,290 (10th percentile) to $82,800 (90th percentile).
How many Occupational Therapy Aides work in South Carolina?
There are approximately 50 Occupational Therapy Aides employed in South Carolina, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly rate for Occupational Therapy Aides in South Carolina?
The median hourly wage for Occupational Therapy Aides in South Carolina is $15.36/hr.
Where does WageDex get its salary data?
All salary and employment data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Data Sources

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release).

Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Wage estimates include straight-time pay plus items such as tips, commissions, and production bonuses. They exclude employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses. Employment figures represent the estimated number of workers in the occupation across all industries in South Carolina.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's South Carolina figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.