Occupational Therapy Assistant salary: how much does an occupational therapy assistant make?
An occupational therapy assistant in the US earns a median of $72,300 a year, about $34.76 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $51,490 and the top 10% earn over $89,780. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Maryland, has a median of $82,010.
Occupational Therapy Assistant pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does an occupational therapy assistant make an hour?
The median occupational therapy assistant earns $34.76 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $24.76 for the lowest-paid 10% to $43.16 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $51,490 | $24.76 |
| Lower 25% | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Median (typical) | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| Upper 25% | $79,160 | $38.06 |
| Top 10% | $89,780 | $43.16 |
Occupational Therapy Assistant salary by state
Median annual pay for occupational therapy assistants by state, from BLS May 2025 data. “Not published” means BLS did not release a figure for that state, usually because too few employers reported this job there.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $62,250 | $29.93 |
| Alaska | $53,530 | $25.74 |
| Arizona | $73,490 | $35.33 |
| Arkansas | $78,940 | $37.95 |
| California | $81,770 | $39.31 |
| Colorado | $75,340 | $36.22 |
| Connecticut | $72,780 | $34.99 |
| Delaware | $78,640 | $37.81 |
| District of Columbia | $66,390 | $31.92 |
| Florida | $71,630 | $34.44 |
| Georgia | $75,920 | $36.50 |
| Hawaii | $72,710 | $34.96 |
| Idaho | $65,330 | $31.41 |
| Illinois | $64,120 | $30.83 |
| Indiana | $66,660 | $32.05 |
| Iowa | $64,140 | $30.84 |
| Kansas | $65,010 | $31.25 |
| Kentucky | $65,230 | $31.36 |
| Louisiana | $66,090 | $31.77 |
| Maine | $64,270 | $30.90 |
| Maryland | $82,010 | $39.43 |
| Massachusetts | $75,040 | $36.08 |
| Michigan | $63,260 | $30.41 |
| Minnesota | $64,920 | $31.21 |
| Mississippi | $61,650 | $29.64 |
| Missouri | $66,070 | $31.76 |
| Montana | $72,800 | $35.00 |
| Nebraska | $63,180 | $30.38 |
| Nevada | $79,510 | $38.23 |
| New Hampshire | $67,790 | $32.59 |
| New Jersey | $74,960 | $36.04 |
| New Mexico | $77,020 | $37.03 |
| New York | $68,530 | $32.95 |
| North Carolina | $69,390 | $33.36 |
| North Dakota | $60,970 | $29.31 |
| Ohio | $62,700 | $30.14 |
| Oklahoma | $66,520 | $31.98 |
| Oregon | $76,850 | $36.95 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,590 | $34.42 |
| Rhode Island | $66,710 | $32.07 |
| South Carolina | $73,740 | $35.45 |
| South Dakota | $56,180 | $27.01 |
| Tennessee | $62,420 | $30.01 |
| Texas | $81,500 | $39.18 |
| Utah | $66,080 | $31.77 |
| Vermont | Not published | – |
| Virginia | $74,960 | $36.04 |
| Washington | $77,590 | $37.30 |
| West Virginia | $60,370 | $29.02 |
| Wisconsin | $59,960 | $28.83 |
| Wyoming | $62,750 | $30.17 |
Highest-paying states for occupational therapy assistants
- Maryland: $82,010 median
- California: $81,770 median
- Texas: $81,500 median
- Nevada: $79,510 median
- Arkansas: $78,940 median
The lowest published medians are in Alaska ($53,530), South Dakota ($56,180), Wisconsin ($59,960), West Virginia ($60,370), North Dakota ($60,970). The most occupational therapy assistant jobs are in Texas (5,610 jobs), Florida (3,910 jobs), Ohio (3,890 jobs), California (3,840 jobs), Pennsylvania (2,560 jobs).
How much does an occupational therapy assistant make a month?
At the median salary of $72,300, an occupational therapy assistant earns about $6,025 a month, $2,781 every two weeks or $1,390 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced occupational therapy assistant pay
New occupational therapy assistants typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $51,490 a year and the lowest 25% under $61,710. The top 25% earn over $79,160 and the top 10% over $89,780. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Occupational Therapy Assistant salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Occupational therapy assistant | $72,300 |
| Medical assistant | $45,690 |
| Surgical tech | $64,650 |
| Radiology tech | $80,110 |
| Ultrasound tech | $96,590 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 |
OTA salary
An OTA (occupational therapy assistant, often COTA when certified) earns a median $72,300 a year, $34.76 an hour, BLS May 2025. The top 10% earn over $89,780.
Occupational Therapy Assistant take-home pay by state (2026)
2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 joint), and each state's 2026 income tax. Local income taxes, state disability or paid-leave payroll taxes and other deductions are not included. Estimate only, not tax advice.
Common questions
How much does an occupational therapy assistant make?
The US median is $72,300 a year ($34.76 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does an occupational therapy assistant make an hour?
The median is about $34.76 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $24.76 and the top 10% about $43.16 an hour.
Which state pays occupational therapy assistants the most?
Maryland has the highest median at $82,010, followed by California ($81,770) and Texas ($81,500).
How much does an occupational therapy assistant make a month?
At the US median of $72,300 a year, about $6,025 a month or $2,781 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level occupational therapy assistant make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $51,490 a year and the lowest 25% under $61,710, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of occupational therapy assistants make?
The top 10% earn over $89,780 a year; the top 25% earn over $79,160.
How much does an occupational therapy assistant make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $81,770 in California, $81,500 in Texas, $71,630 in Florida, $68,530 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 31-2011, “Occupational Therapy Assistants”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.