Median Salary
$72,300
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$34.76
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$89,780
entry level starts ~$51,490
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 51,000 employed
How much does an Occupational Therapy Assistant make?
Occupational Therapy Assistants in the United States bring home a median salary of $72,300 a year, or around $34.76 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $51,490, while the top 10% earn $89,780.
That is $10,910 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Occupational Therapy Assistant salary range by percentile
Half of all Occupational Therapy Assistants earn between $61,710 and $79,160 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,490 | $24.75 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $61,710 | $29.67 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $72,300 | $34.76 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $79,160 | $38.06 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,780 | $43.16 |
|
Highest-paying states for Occupational Therapy Assistant
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Maryland leads the country for Occupational Therapy Assistant pay at $82,010 a year, followed by California ($81,770) and Texas ($81,500). At the other end, Alaska posts the lowest median at $53,530 — a gap of $28,480 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 50 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $62,700Tennessee $62,420Alabama $62,250Mississippi $61,650North Dakota $60,970West Virginia $60,370Wisconsin $59,960South Dakota $56,180Alaska $53,530
Workforce and education
About 51,000 people work as Occupational Therapy Assistants in the United States. On qualifications: a certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Occupational Therapy Assistant make in the United States?
The median Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in the United States is $72,300 per year, or about $34.76 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $51,490, while the top 10% of earners make $89,780 or more.
How does Occupational Therapy Assistant pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Occupational Therapy Assistant median of $72,300 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Occupational Therapy Assistants the most?
Maryland is the highest-paying state for Occupational Therapy Assistants, with a median salary of $82,010 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become an Occupational Therapy Assistant?
Becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant typically requires 6 to 18 months of training. A certificate or diploma program (usually 6 to 18 months) is the typical entry path.
How many Occupational Therapy Assistants work in the United States?
About 51,000 people were employed as Occupational Therapy Assistants in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.