California Median
$81,770
per year
Hourly Rate
$39.31
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+13% vs US median
US median $72,300
State Rank
#2 of 50
3,840 employed here
How much does an Occupational Therapy Assistant make in California?
Occupational Therapy Assistants in California take home a median of $81,770 annually — roughly $39.31 an hour — which runs 13% above the national median of $72,300.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $65,680 while the top 10% make $104,990 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $76,350 and $96,720 a year.
Occupational Therapy Assistant salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,680 | $31.58 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $76,350 | $36.71 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $81,770 | $39.31 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $96,720 | $46.50 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,990 | $50.48 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 2nd out of 50 states and territories for Occupational Therapy Assistant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in other states
Maryland $82,010Texas $81,500Nevada $79,510Arkansas $78,940Delaware $78,640Washington $77,590New Mexico $77,020Oregon $76,850Georgia $75,920Colorado $75,340Massachusetts $75,040New Jersey $74,960Virginia $74,960South Carolina $73,740Arizona $73,490Montana $72,800Connecticut $72,780Hawaii $72,710Florida $71,630Pennsylvania $71,590North Carolina $69,390New York $68,530New Hampshire $67,790Rhode Island $66,710Indiana $66,660Oklahoma $66,520District of Columbia $66,390Louisiana $66,090Utah $66,080Missouri $66,070Idaho $65,330Kentucky $65,230Kansas $65,010Minnesota $64,920Maine $64,270Iowa $64,140Illinois $64,120Michigan $63,260Nebraska $63,180Wyoming $62,750Ohio $62,700Tennessee $62,420Alabama $62,250Mississippi $61,650North Dakota $60,970West Virginia $60,370Wisconsin $59,960South Dakota $56,180Alaska $53,530
Working as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in California
Nationally, about 51,000 people work as Occupational Therapy Assistants in the United States. A certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($81,770) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Occupational Therapy Assistant make in California?
The median Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in California is $81,770 per year, or about $39.31 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $65,680 at the entry level to $104,990 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Occupational Therapy Assistants about 13% more than the national median of $72,300. California ranks 2nd out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Occupational Therapy Assistants?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $81,770 a year. About 3,840 Occupational Therapy Assistants are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Occupational Therapy Assistant salary report
Related salaries
$80,110
median pay · 230,000 employed
$65,790
median pay · 35,000 employed
$68,380
median pay · 112,000 employed
$61,960
median pay · 15,000 employed
$76,040
median pay · 8,000 employed
$64,400
median pay · 648,000 employed
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.