An occupational therapy assistant’s salary depends on factors such as which state you live in, who your employer is, how much experience you have, and the type of facility you work in. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the job outlook for occupational therapy assistants is excellent. In fact, it’s one of the fastest-growing fields in medicine, and that growth is unlikely to slow down any time soon.
The average annual salary for OTAs is $61,730, according to a BLS report from May 2021. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $46,810, and the top 10 percent earned more than $80,210.
Occupational therapy assistants can earn more money if they are experienced in certain areas. For example, OTAs who are trained to work with children may have an easier time finding a job at a preschool. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the best-paying jobs are in clients’ homes, nursing facilities, and hospitals.
- OTAs in Hawaii, Nevada, California, and New Jersey can make as much as $72,000+ per year.
- The lowest salaries are in South Dakota, Wisconsin, Idaho, and Michigan, where most OTAs make under $50,000 per year.
These figures are averages, however, and your salary can also depend on other factors such as where you work and who you work for. Also, the field of occupational therapy is expected to grow over the next decade.
Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary by State
The following chart was created based on data provided by the BLS.
Occupational Therapy Assistants (SOC code 312011)
Period: May 2021
| State | Employment | Hourly Mean Wage | Annual Mean Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 360 | $30.92 | $64,320 |
| Arizona | 1470 | $28.71 | $59,710 |
| Arkansas | 460 | $32.45 | $67,490 |
| California | 3200 | $36.10 | $75,080 |
| Colorado | 760 | $28.82 | $59,950 |
| Connecticut | 530 | $32.26 | $67,090 |
| Delaware | 60 | $34.58 | $71,930 |
| DC | 30 | $28.96 | $60,230 |
| Florida | 2550 | $31.43 | $65,370 |
| Georgia | 560 | $32.09 | $66,740 |
| Hawaii | 80 | $35.25 | $73,330 |
| Idaho | 120 | $25.36 | $52,740 |
| Illinois | 2330 | $30.22 | $62,860 |
| Indiana | 930 | $26.21 | $54,510 |
| Iowa | 340 | $27.39 | $56,960 |
| Kansas | 380 | $28.20 | $58,650 |
| Kentucky | 540 | $30.91 | $64,300 |
| Louisiana | 660 | $30.44 | $63,310 |
| Maine | 80 | $27.04 | $56,250 |
| Maryland | 700 | $32.01 | $66,580 |
| Massachusetts | 1090 | $31.62 | $65,760 |
| Michigan | 1430 | $25.98 | $54,040 |
| Minnesota | 660 | $26.22 | $54,540 |
| Mississippi | 470 | $28.93 | $60,180 |
| Missouri | 680 | $27.03 | $56,230 |
| Montana | 50 | $27.75 | $57,720 |
| Nebraska | 210 | $28.19 | $58,630 |
| Nevada | 240 | $37.55 | $78,100 |
| New Hampshire | 110 | $31.55 | $65,620 |
| New Jersey | 640 | $35.03 | $72,860 |
| New Mexico | 240 | $33.56 | $69,800 |
| New York | 2310 | $31.19 | $64,870 |
| North Carolina | 1180 | $31.78 | $66,100 |
| North Dakota | 100 | $26.98 | $56,130 |
| Ohio | 3410 | $29.69 | $61,760 |
| Oklahoma | 540 | $29.69 | $61,760 |
| Oregon | 260 | $30.62 | $63,680 |
| Pennsylvania | 2690 | $26.84 | $55,820 |
| Rhode Island | 230 | $29.90 | $62,190 |
| South Carolina | 520 | $30.85 | $64,160 |
| South Dakota | 70 | $22.32 | $46,420 |
| Tennessee | 1070 | $29.10 | $60,520 |
| Texas | 4050 | $34.02 | $70,770 |
| Utah | 250 | $30.57 | $63,580 |
| Vermont | 40 | $30.48 | $63,400 |
| Virginia | 1030 | $32.01 | $66,580 |
| Washington | 620 | $31.27 | $65,050 |
| West Virginia | 240 | $28.12 | $58,500 |
| Wisconsin | 1280 | $24.88 | $51,760 |
| Wyoming | 70 | $29.02 | $60,360 |
