How much does a occupational therapy assistant make?
The median occupational therapy assistant in the United States earns $72,300 per year, about $34.76 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all occupational therapy assistants earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 31-2011.
Occupational therapy assistant salary range
Pay for occupational therapy assistants spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $51,490 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $89,780. The average (mean) wage is $70,710, close to the median.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,490 | $24.76 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $61,710 | $29.67 | |
| Median (50th) | $72,300 | $34.76 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $79,160 | $38.06 | |
| 90th percentile | $89,780 | $43.16 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for occupational therapy assistants (SOC 31-2011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Occupational therapy assistant salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Occupational therapy assistants earn the most in Maryland at $82,010 a year, and the least in Alaska at $53,530. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $82,010 | 710 |
| California | $81,770 | 3,840 |
| Texas | $81,500 | 5,610 |
| Nevada | $79,510 | 220 |
| Arkansas | $78,940 | 730 |
| Delaware | $78,640 | 220 |
| Washington | $77,590 | 720 |
| New Mexico | $77,020 | 300 |
| Oregon | $76,850 | 250 |
| Georgia | $75,920 | 1,060 |
| Colorado | $75,340 | 710 |
| Massachusetts | $75,040 | 1,410 |
| New Jersey | $74,960 | 1,080 |
| Virginia | $74,960 | 1,130 |
| South Carolina | $73,740 | 830 |
| Arizona | $73,490 | 1,120 |
| Montana | $72,800 | 60 |
| Connecticut | $72,780 | 820 |
| Hawaii | $72,710 | 60 |
| Florida | $71,630 | 3,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,590 | 2,560 |
| North Carolina | $69,390 | 1,590 |
| New York | $68,530 | 2,230 |
| New Hampshire | $67,790 | 150 |
| Rhode Island | $66,710 | 300 |
| Indiana | $66,660 | 1,490 |
| Oklahoma | $66,520 | 1,000 |
| District of Columbia | $66,390 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $66,090 | 760 |
| Utah | $66,080 | 280 |
| Missouri | $66,070 | 1,470 |
| Idaho | $65,330 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $65,230 | 500 |
| Kansas | $65,010 | 660 |
| Minnesota | $64,920 | 540 |
| Maine | $64,270 | 250 |
| Iowa | $64,140 | 400 |
| Illinois | $64,120 | 2,470 |
| Michigan | $63,260 | 1,250 |
| Nebraska | $63,180 | 210 |
| Wyoming | $62,750 | 80 |
| Ohio | $62,700 | 3,890 |
| Tennessee | $62,420 | 1,300 |
| Alabama | $62,250 | 750 |
| Mississippi | $61,650 | 420 |
| North Dakota | $60,970 | 130 |
| West Virginia | $60,370 | 340 |
| Wisconsin | $59,960 | 1,050 |
| South Dakota | $56,180 | 100 |
| Alaska | $53,530 | 60 |
State median wages for occupational therapy assistants (SOC 31-2011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for occupational therapy assistants
The BLS projects employment of occupational therapy assistants to grow 21.5% from 2025 to 2035. That is much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 52,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 63,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 8,100 openings a year for occupational therapy assistants. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become an occupational therapy assistant
The typical entry-level education for occupational therapy assistants is an associate's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much an occupational therapy assistant earns
Certification, work setting, shift, and region shape pay. Hospitals and high cost metros pay above clinics, nursing homes, and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Maryland, $82,010) and the lowest (Alaska, $53,530) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 51,290 people work as occupational therapy assistants in the United States. At $72,300 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Occupational therapy assistant salary FAQ
How much does an occupational therapy assistant make an hour?
The median hourly wage for an occupational therapy assistant is $34.76. The middle half of occupational therapy assistants earn between $29.67 and $38.06 per hour.
What is the highest occupational therapy assistant salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of occupational therapy assistants earn more than $89,780 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does an occupational therapy assistant make a year?
The median annual salary for an occupational therapy assistant is $72,300. The average (mean) wage is $70,710, close to the median.
Is being an occupational therapy assistant a well paid job?
At $72,300 a year, an occupational therapy assistant earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 51,290 people work as occupational therapy assistants in the United States.
Which state pays occupational therapy assistants the most?
Maryland has the highest median salary for occupational therapy assistants at $82,010 a year. California ($81,770) and Texas ($81,500) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being an occupational therapy assistant a good career?
Employment of occupational therapy assistants is projected to grow 21.5% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 8,100 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become an occupational therapy assistant?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for occupational therapy assistants as an associate's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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