Tennessee Median
$62,420
per year
Hourly Rate
$30.01
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-14% vs US median
US median $72,300
State Rank
#43 of 50
1,300 employed here
How much does an Occupational Therapy Assistant make in Tennessee?
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Tennessee take home a median of $62,420 annually — roughly $30.01 an hour — which runs 14% below the national median of $72,300.
Within Tennessee, entry-level pay starts around $23,910 while the top 10% make $78,950 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $58,470 and $74,000 a year.
Occupational Therapy Assistant salary range in Tennessee
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,910 | $11.50 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $58,470 | $28.11 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $62,420 | $30.01 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $74,000 | $35.58 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,950 | $37.96 |
|
How Tennessee compares
Tennessee ranks 43rd 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 $82,010California $81,770Texas $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 $62,700Alabama $62,250Mississippi $61,650North Dakota $60,970West Virginia $60,370Wisconsin $59,960South Dakota $56,180Alaska $53,530
Working as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Tennessee
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 Tennessee pay ($62,420) 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 Tennessee?
The median Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in Tennessee is $62,420 per year, or about $30.01 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $23,910 at the entry level to $78,950 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Tennessee pay compare to the national average?
Tennessee pays Occupational Therapy Assistants about 14% less than the national median of $72,300. Tennessee ranks 43rd out of 50 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Tennessee a good state for Occupational Therapy Assistants?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $62,420 a year. About 1,300 Occupational Therapy Assistants are employed in Tennessee. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Tennessee?
The highest-paying occupations in Tennessee include Cardiologist ($610,080), Dermatologist ($433,630), Surgeon, All Other ($373,510), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Occupational Therapy Assistant salary report
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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.