The salaries of occupational therapy aides depend heavily on the employer, the state in which they are employed, and how much experience they have prior to starting the job. For those who have some experience, salaries may be a little higher. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics report for May 2014 shows the average annual salary for occupational therapy aides was $26,550. The top 10 percent earned about $44,220 annually, and the lowest 10 percent earned approximately $18,030 annually.
Geographically, the states that have the highest annual salaries are Rhode Island, Connecticut, Michigan, and Ohio, while the states that have the lowest annual salaries are Idaho, Utah, and Tennessee. The cities that have the most employment opportunities are Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, New York City, St. Louis, and Milwaukee, with between 100 and 400 jobs available at any given time in each city.
Salary by State Chart
The following chart was created based on the evidence provided by the BLS.
Occupational Therapy Aides (SOC code 312012)
Period: May 2014
| State | Employment | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | N/A | $9.24 | $23,470 |
| Arkansas | 70 | $10.31 | $21,440 |
| California | 880 | $14.45 | $30,060 |
| Connecticut | 90 | $12.84 | $26,400 |
| DC | 40 | $18.94 | $39,400 |
| Florida | 120 | $13.30 | $27,670 |
| Georgia | 130 | $12.47 | $25,940 |
| Hawaii | N/A | $11.97 | $24,900 |
| Idaho | N/A | $13.45 | $27,820 |
| Illinois | 1290 | $9.37 | $19,480 |
| Indiana | 110 | $12.28 | $25,550 |
| Iowa | 40 | $11.20 | $23,300 |
| Kansas | 30 | $13.78 | $28,660 |
| Kentucky | 80 | $13.70 | $28,500 |
| Louisiana | 200 | $13.93 | $28,960 |
| Maryland | 110 | $13.34 | $27,750 |
| Massachusetts | 640 | $14.63 | $30,430 |
| Michigan | 730 | $14.08 | $29,280 |
| Minnesota | 40 | $14.48 | $30,120 |
| Missouri | 150 | $15.52 | $32,290 |
| Nebraska | 50 | $12.72 | $26,460 |
| Nevada | N/A | $13.45 | $27,980 |
| New Hampshire | 50 | $12.39 | $25,780 |
| New Jersey | 60 | $13.36 | $27,790 |
| New Mexico | 30 | $10.82 | $22,500 |
| New York | 310 | $16.76 | $34,870 |
| North Carolina | 260 | $12.24 | $25,460 |
| Ohio | 90 | $15.07 | $31,350 |
| Oklahoma | 50 | $12.96 | $26,950 |
| Pennsylvania | 600 | $13.00 | $27,030 |
| Puerto Rico | N/A | $8.34 | $17,360 |
| Rhode Island | N/A | $22.31 | $46,410 |
| South Carolina | 390 | $11.63 | $24,190 |
| Tennessee | 50 | $11.97 | $24,910 |
| Texas | 420 | $12.40 | $25,800 |
| Utah | 80 | $13.51 | $28,100 |
| Virginia | 180 | $13.27 | $27,600 |
| Washington | 70 | $13.93 | $28,980 |
| Wisconsin | 90 | $13.86 | $28,830 |
