31 Series · SOC 31-2011
Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $72,300
- Median / year
- $89,780
- Top 10% earn
- +19.2%
- Growth '23–'33
- 51,290
- US workers
Occupational Therapy Assistants earn a median of $72,300 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $72,300, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $51,490 (10th percentile) to $89,780 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 51,290 US workers. Maryland pays the most ($82,010), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Occupational Therapy Assistants earn a median of $72,300, putting them above the typical US occupation and higher than 63% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Support, it ranks #1 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 19.2% by 2033.
- $72,300
- Median annual wage
- Top 37%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #1 of 17
- in Healthcare Support
- 1.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Maryland at $82,010. Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
Occupational Therapy Assistants (SOC 31-2011) pays a national median of $72,300 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $51,490 at the 10th percentile to $89,780 at the 90th, with a mean of $70,710 indicating a compressed distribution clustered near the median. An estimated 51,290 Americans work in this occupation across 50 reporting states and 293 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +19.2% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as much faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 7,200 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Associate's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 5.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Maryland pays the highest state median at $82,010, which is +13% above the national figure. The top metro is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $97,860 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 51,290 jobs Median $72,300/yr
Median Salary
$72,300
per year
Median Hourly
$34.76/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$70,710
average
Employment
51,290
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Occupational Therapy Assistants pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$72,300 Top 37% higher than 63% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 31-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Occupational Therapy Assistants; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 17 31-series occupations with growth data, Occupational Therapy Assistants sits on the faster-growing side at +19.2% growth and $72,300 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+19.2%
Much faster than average
Annual Openings
7,200
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Associate's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
5.5/100
Danger Index
22.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Occupational Therapy Assistants roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Active Listening 3.9
Speaking 3.9
Social Perceptiveness 3.9
Service Orientation 3.9
Reading Comprehension 3.6
Time Management 3.5
Critical Thinking 3.4
Monitoring 3.4
Writing 3.3
Active Learning 3.3
Knowledge Areas
Customer and Personal Service 4.7
Psychology 4.3
Education and Training 3.9
English Language 3.7
Therapy and Counseling 3.7
Public Safety and Security 3.4
Sociology and Anthropology 3.1
Administrative 3.1
Medicine and Dentistry 3.0
Computers and Electronics 3.0
Key Tasks
- ▸ Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.
- ▸ Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.
- ▸ Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.
- ▸ Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently.
- ▸ Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement.
- ▸ Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records.
- ▸ Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities.
- ▸ Attend continuing education classes.
- ▸ Aid patients in dressing and grooming themselves.
- ▸ Evaluate the daily living skills or capacities of clients with physical, developmental, or mental health disabilities.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$51,490
25th Percentile
$61,710
Median
$72,300
75th Percentile
$79,160
90th Percentile
$89,780
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 50 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $82,010 | +13% above national |
| 2 | California | $81,770 | +13% above national |
| 3 | Texas | $81,500 | +13% above national |
| 4 | Nevada | $79,510 | +10% above national |
| 5 | Arkansas | $78,940 | +9% above national |
| 6 | Delaware | $78,640 | +9% above national |
| 7 | Washington | $77,590 | +7% above national |
| 8 | New Mexico | $77,020 | +7% above national |
| 9 | Oregon | $76,850 | +6% above national |
| 10 | Georgia | $75,920 | +5% above national |
| 11 | Colorado | $75,340 | +4% above national |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $75,040 | +4% above national |
| 13 | New Jersey | $74,960 | +4% above national |
| 14 | Virginia | $74,960 | +4% above national |
| 15 | South Carolina | $73,740 | +2% above national |
| 16 | Arizona | $73,490 | +2% above national |
| 17 | Montana | $72,800 | +1% above national |
| 18 | Connecticut | $72,780 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Hawaii | $72,710 | +1% above national |
| 20 | Florida | $71,630 | 1% below national |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $71,590 | 1% below national |
| 22 | North Carolina | $69,390 | 4% below national |
| 23 | New York | $68,530 | 5% below national |
| 24 | New Hampshire | $67,790 | 6% below national |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $66,710 | 8% below national |
| 26 | Indiana | $66,660 | 8% below national |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $66,520 | 8% below national |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $66,390 | 8% below national |
| 29 | Louisiana | $66,090 | 9% below national |
| 30 | Utah | $66,080 | 9% below national |
| 31 | Missouri | $66,070 | 9% below national |
| 32 | Idaho | $65,330 | 10% below national |
| 33 | Kentucky | $65,230 | 10% below national |
| 34 | Kansas | $65,010 | 10% below national |
| 35 | Minnesota | $64,920 | 10% below national |
| 36 | Maine | $64,270 | 11% below national |
| 37 | Iowa | $64,140 | 11% below national |
| 38 | Illinois | $64,120 | 11% below national |
| 39 | Michigan | $63,260 | 13% below national |
| 40 | Nebraska | $63,180 | 13% below national |
| 41 | Wyoming | $62,750 | 13% below national |
| 42 | Ohio | $62,700 | 13% below national |
| 43 | Tennessee | $62,420 | 14% below national |
| 44 | Alabama | $62,250 | 14% below national |
| 45 | Mississippi | $61,650 | 15% below national |
| 46 | North Dakota | $60,970 | 16% below national |
| 47 | West Virginia | $60,370 | 17% below national |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $59,960 | 17% below national |
| 49 | South Dakota | $56,180 | 22% below national |
| 50 | Alaska | $53,530 | 26% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 293 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $97,860 | +35% above national |
| 2 | Modesto, CA | $96,210 | +33% above national |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $95,370 | +32% above national |
| 4 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $95,190 | +32% above national |
| 5 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $95,180 | +32% above national |
| 6 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $88,250 | +22% above national |
| 7 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $86,440 | +20% above national |
| 8 | Spartanburg, SC | $86,040 | +19% above national |
| 9 | Boulder, CO | $84,860 | +17% above national |
| 10 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $84,400 | +17% above national |
| 11 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $82,680 | +14% above national |
| 12 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $82,620 | +14% above national |
| 13 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $82,610 | +14% above national |
| 14 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $82,060 | +13% above national |
| 15 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $82,010 | +13% above national |
| 16 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $81,710 | +13% above national |
| 17 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $81,500 | +13% above national |
| 18 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $81,340 | +13% above national |
| 19 | Visalia, CA | $81,200 | +12% above national |
| 20 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $81,170 | +12% above national |
| 21 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $81,070 | +12% above national |
| 22 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $80,910 | +12% above national |
| 23 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $80,720 | +12% above national |
| 24 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $80,660 | +12% above national |
| 25 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $80,070 | +11% above national |
| 26 | Charlottesville, VA | $79,770 | +10% above national |
| 27 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $79,760 | +10% above national |
| 28 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $79,720 | +10% above national |
| 29 | Lubbock, TX | $79,690 | +10% above national |
| 30 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $79,680 | +10% above national |
| 31 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $79,600 | +10% above national |
| 32 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $79,600 | +10% above national |
| 33 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $79,520 | +10% above national |
| 34 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $79,240 | +10% above national |
| 35 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $78,720 | +9% above national |
| 36 | Jonesboro, AR | $78,660 | +9% above national |
| 37 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $78,640 | +9% above national |
| 38 | Lynchburg, VA | $78,230 | +8% above national |
| 39 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $78,180 | +8% above national |
| 40 | Reno, NV | $78,100 | +8% above national |
| 41 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $78,090 | +8% above national |
| 42 | Lake Charles, LA | $77,820 | +8% above national |
| 43 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $77,800 | +8% above national |
| 44 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $77,690 | +7% above national |
| 45 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $77,590 | +7% above national |
| 46 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $77,420 | +7% above national |
| 47 | Waco, TX | $77,170 | +7% above national |
| 48 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $77,020 | +7% above national |
| 49 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $76,980 | +6% above national |
| 50 | Richmond, VA | $76,760 | +6% above national |
| 51 | Amarillo, TX | $76,720 | +6% above national |
| 52 | Salem, OR | $76,570 | +6% above national |
| 53 | Worcester, MA | $76,570 | +6% above national |
| 54 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $76,440 | +6% above national |
| 55 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $76,290 | +6% above national |
| 56 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $76,090 | +5% above national |
| 57 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $76,080 | +5% above national |
| 58 | Longview, TX | $76,070 | +5% above national |
| 59 | Fresno, CA | $76,030 | +5% above national |
| 60 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $75,850 | +5% above national |
| 61 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $75,800 | +5% above national |
| 62 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $75,770 | +5% above national |
| 63 | Las Cruces, NM | $75,750 | +5% above national |
| 64 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $75,670 | +5% above national |
| 65 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $75,620 | +5% above national |
| 66 | Dover, DE | $75,440 | +4% above national |
| 67 | Tulsa, OK | $75,360 | +4% above national |
| 68 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $75,300 | +4% above national |
| 69 | Tyler, TX | $75,280 | +4% above national |
| 70 | Barnstable Town, MA | $75,170 | +4% above national |
| 71 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $75,040 | +4% above national |
| 72 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $74,960 | +4% above national |
| 73 | Springfield, OH | $74,950 | +4% above national |
| 74 | Colorado Springs, CO | $74,700 | +3% above national |
| 75 | El Paso, TX | $74,640 | +3% above national |
| 76 | Wichita Falls, TX | $74,450 | +3% above national |
| 77 | Corpus Christi, TX | $74,430 | +3% above national |
| 78 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $74,430 | +3% above national |
| 79 | Albuquerque, NM | $74,380 | +3% above national |
| 80 | Columbia, SC | $74,330 | +3% above national |
| 81 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $74,290 | +3% above national |
| 82 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $73,890 | +2% above national |
| 83 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $73,780 | +2% above national |
| 84 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $73,720 | +2% above national |
| 85 | Victoria, TX | $73,720 | +2% above national |
| 86 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $73,710 | +2% above national |
| 87 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $73,580 | +2% above national |
| 88 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $73,580 | +2% above national |
| 89 | New Haven, CT | $73,440 | +2% above national |
| 90 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $73,340 | +1% above national |
| 91 | Fort Wayne, IN | $73,130 | +1% above national |
| 92 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $73,130 | +1% above national |
| 93 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $73,030 | +1% above national |
| 94 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $72,960 | +1% above national |
| 95 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $72,880 | +1% above national |
| 96 | Roanoke, VA | $72,870 | +1% above national |
| 97 | Asheville, NC | $72,840 | +1% above national |
| 98 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $72,820 | +1% above national |
| 99 | Punta Gorda, FL | $72,800 | +1% above national |
| 100 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $72,780 | +1% above national |
| 101 | Florence, SC | $72,720 | +1% above national |
| 102 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $72,630 | same as national |
| 103 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $72,300 | same as national |
| 104 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $72,190 | same as national |
| 105 | Lancaster, PA | $72,170 | same as national |
| 106 | Savannah, GA | $72,120 | same as national |
| 107 | Reading, PA | $72,110 | same as national |
| 108 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $72,070 | same as national |
| 109 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $71,990 | same as national |
| 110 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $71,960 | same as national |
| 111 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $71,930 | 1% below national |
| 112 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $71,750 | 1% below national |
| 113 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $71,640 | 1% below national |
| 114 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $71,570 | 1% below national |
| 115 | Tucson, AZ | $71,480 | 1% below national |
| 116 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $71,420 | 1% below national |
| 117 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $71,310 | 1% below national |
| 118 | Gainesville, FL | $71,240 | 1% below national |
| 119 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $71,140 | 2% below national |
| 120 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $71,050 | 2% below national |
| 121 | Owensboro, KY | $70,840 | 2% below national |
| 122 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $70,630 | 2% below national |
| 123 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $70,570 | 2% below national |
| 124 | Jacksonville, FL | $70,540 | 2% below national |
| 125 | Winston-Salem, NC | $70,150 | 3% below national |
| 126 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $70,020 | 3% below national |
| 127 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $69,570 | 4% below national |
| 128 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $69,390 | 4% below national |
| 129 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $69,270 | 4% below national |
| 130 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $68,900 | 5% below national |
| 131 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $68,570 | 5% below national |
| 132 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $68,530 | 5% below national |
| 133 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $68,380 | 5% below national |
| 134 | Pueblo, CO | $68,370 | 5% below national |
| 135 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $68,230 | 6% below national |
| 136 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $67,840 | 6% below national |
| 137 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $67,840 | 6% below national |
| 138 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $67,780 | 6% below national |
| 139 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $67,460 | 7% below national |
| 140 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $67,450 | 7% below national |
| 141 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $67,380 | 7% below national |
| 142 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $67,300 | 7% below national |
| 143 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $67,290 | 7% below national |
| 144 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $67,290 | 7% below national |
| 145 | Springfield, IL | $67,140 | 7% below national |
| 146 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $66,920 | 7% below national |
| 147 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $66,580 | 8% below national |
| 148 | Boise City, ID | $66,550 | 8% below national |
| 149 | Tallahassee, FL | $66,320 | 8% below national |
| 150 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $66,230 | 8% below national |
| 151 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $66,210 | 8% below national |
| 152 | Evansville, IN | $66,200 | 8% below national |
| 153 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $66,160 | 8% below national |
| 154 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $66,150 | 9% below national |
| 155 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $66,130 | 9% below national |
| 156 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $65,980 | 9% below national |
| 157 | Omaha, NE-IA | $65,930 | 9% below national |
| 158 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $65,850 | 9% below national |
| 159 | Oklahoma City, OK | $65,840 | 9% below national |
| 160 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $65,770 | 9% below national |
| 161 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $65,730 | 9% below national |
| 162 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $65,700 | 9% below national |
| 163 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $65,680 | 9% below national |
| 164 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $65,380 | 10% below national |
| 165 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $65,290 | 10% below national |
| 166 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $65,220 | 10% below national |
| 167 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $65,220 | 10% below national |
| 168 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $65,210 | 10% below national |
| 169 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $65,000 | 10% below national |
| 170 | Lafayette, LA | $64,900 | 10% below national |
| 171 | Utica-Rome, NY | $64,880 | 10% below national |
| 172 | Johnson City, TN | $64,810 | 10% below national |
| 173 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $64,700 | 11% below national |
| 174 | Greenville, NC | $64,680 | 11% below national |
| 175 | Williamsport, PA | $64,650 | 11% below national |
| 176 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $64,490 | 11% below national |
| 177 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $64,430 | 11% below national |
| 178 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $64,370 | 11% below national |
| 179 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $64,310 | 11% below national |
| 180 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $64,310 | 11% below national |
| 181 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $64,250 | 11% below national |
| 182 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $64,250 | 11% below national |
| 183 | Springfield, MA | $64,250 | 11% below national |
| 184 | Wichita, KS | $64,250 | 11% below national |
| 185 | York-Hanover, PA | $64,180 | 11% below national |
| 186 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $64,180 | 11% below national |
| 187 | Monroe, LA | $64,130 | 11% below national |
| 188 | Kansas nonmetropolitan area | $64,120 | 11% below national |
| 189 | Laredo, TX | $64,090 | 11% below national |
| 190 | Ogden, UT | $64,050 | 11% below national |
| 191 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $64,040 | 11% below national |
| 192 | Fayetteville, NC | $64,010 | 11% below national |
| 193 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $64,010 | 11% below national |
| 194 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $63,840 | 12% below national |
| 195 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $63,740 | 12% below national |
| 196 | Toledo, OH | $63,710 | 12% below national |
| 197 | Fargo, ND-MN | $63,660 | 12% below national |
| 198 | Jackson, MS | $63,540 | 12% below national |
| 199 | Bangor, ME | $63,520 | 12% below national |
| 200 | Columbus, OH | $63,480 | 12% below national |
| 201 | Wilmington, NC | $63,440 | 12% below national |
| 202 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $63,330 | 12% below national |
| 203 | Sandusky, OH | $63,260 | 13% below national |
| 204 | Lincoln, NE | $63,180 | 13% below national |
| 205 | Birmingham, AL | $63,170 | 13% below national |
| 206 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $63,160 | 13% below national |
| 207 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $63,120 | 13% below national |
| 208 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $63,110 | 13% below national |
| 209 | Baton Rouge, LA | $63,030 | 13% below national |
| 210 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $62,920 | 13% below national |
| 211 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $62,920 | 13% below national |
| 212 | Columbia, MO | $62,810 | 13% below national |
| 213 | Cleveland, OH | $62,700 | 13% below national |
| 214 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $62,670 | 13% below national |
| 215 | Rockford, IL | $62,640 | 13% below national |
| 216 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $62,570 | 13% below national |
| 217 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $62,440 | 14% below national |
| 218 | Akron, OH | $62,380 | 14% below national |
| 219 | Manhattan, KS | $62,380 | 14% below national |
| 220 | Rochester, NY | $62,330 | 14% below national |
| 221 | Mobile, AL | $62,250 | 14% below national |
| 222 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $62,240 | 14% below national |
| 223 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $62,240 | 14% below national |
| 224 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $62,210 | 14% below national |
| 225 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $62,200 | 14% below national |
| 226 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $62,010 | 14% below national |
| 227 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $62,000 | 14% below national |
| 228 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $61,950 | 14% below national |
| 229 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $61,930 | 14% below national |
| 230 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $61,930 | 14% below national |
| 231 | Pittsburgh, PA | $61,900 | 14% below national |
| 232 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $61,830 | 14% below national |
| 233 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $61,790 | 15% below national |
| 234 | Topeka, KS | $61,740 | 15% below national |
| 235 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $61,720 | 15% below national |
| 236 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $61,700 | 15% below national |
| 237 | Bowling Green, KY | $61,690 | 15% below national |
| 238 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $61,560 | 15% below national |
| 239 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $61,510 | 15% below national |
| 240 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $61,360 | 15% below national |
| 241 | Springfield, MO | $61,360 | 15% below national |
| 242 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $61,280 | 15% below national |
| 243 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $61,230 | 15% below national |
| 244 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $61,120 | 15% below national |
| 245 | Huntsville, AL | $61,040 | 16% below national |
| 246 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $60,940 | 16% below national |
| 247 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $60,920 | 16% below national |
| 248 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $60,900 | 16% below national |
| 249 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $60,840 | 16% below national |
| 250 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $60,820 | 16% below national |
| 251 | Kenosha, WI | $60,790 | 16% below national |
| 252 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $60,740 | 16% below national |
| 253 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $60,740 | 16% below national |
| 254 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $60,600 | 16% below national |
| 255 | Lima, OH | $60,550 | 16% below national |
| 256 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $60,520 | 16% below national |
| 257 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $60,440 | 16% below national |
| 258 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $60,380 | 16% below national |
| 259 | Syracuse, NY | $60,320 | 17% below national |
| 260 | Altoona, PA | $60,310 | 17% below national |
| 261 | Bloomington, IL | $60,050 | 17% below national |
| 262 | Flint, MI | $60,040 | 17% below national |
| 263 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $60,040 | 17% below national |
| 264 | Knoxville, TN | $59,930 | 17% below national |
| 265 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $59,560 | 18% below national |
| 266 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $59,540 | 18% below national |
| 267 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $59,370 | 18% below national |
| 268 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $59,300 | 18% below national |
| 269 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $59,160 | 18% below national |
| 270 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $58,830 | 19% below national |
| 271 | Erie, PA | $58,470 | 19% below national |
| 272 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $58,160 | 20% below national |
| 273 | Appleton, WI | $57,920 | 20% below national |
| 274 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $57,810 | 20% below national |
| 275 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $57,790 | 20% below national |
| 276 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $57,540 | 20% below national |
| 277 | Charleston, WV | $57,520 | 20% below national |
| 278 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $57,520 | 20% below national |
| 279 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $57,450 | 21% below national |
| 280 | Green Bay, WI | $57,280 | 21% below national |
| 281 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $56,870 | 21% below national |
| 282 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $56,230 | 22% below national |
| 283 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $56,180 | 22% below national |
| 284 | Johnstown, PA | $56,120 | 22% below national |
| 285 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $56,120 | 22% below national |
| 286 | Eau Claire, WI | $56,110 | 22% below national |
| 287 | Peoria, IL | $55,210 | 24% below national |
| 288 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $55,160 | 24% below national |
| 289 | Madison, WI | $54,870 | 24% below national |
| 290 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $52,560 | 27% below national |
| 291 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $52,480 | 27% below national |
| 292 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $51,140 | 29% below national |
| 293 | Anchorage, AK | $49,050 | 32% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 31 (healthcare support) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Occupational Therapy Assistants make? ▼
The median annual salary for Occupational Therapy Assistants is $72,300 ($34.76/hour). The salary range spans from $51,490 at the 10th percentile to $89,780 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Occupational Therapy Assistants the most? ▼
Maryland pays the highest median salary for Occupational Therapy Assistants at $82,010/year, which is +13% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Occupational Therapy Assistants? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Occupational Therapy Assistants is Associate's degree.
How dangerous is being a Occupational Therapy Assistants? ▼
Occupational Therapy Assistants has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.6 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 5.5 per 100 workers.
Is Occupational Therapy Assistants a good career? ▼
Employment for Occupational Therapy Assistants is projected to grow 19.2% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than average. About 7,200 openings are projected each year.
How does Occupational Therapy Assistants pay vary by state? ▼
Occupational Therapy Assistants salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Maryland at $82,010/year, while North Dakota pays the least at $60,970/year. BLS data covers 50 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Occupational Therapy Assistants? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Occupational Therapy Assistants is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $97,860/year. BLS reports wage data for 293 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Occupational Therapy Assistants pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $79,160/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Maryland leads at $82,010/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.