Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary

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 Assistant Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary Infographic

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

StateEmploymentHourly Mean WageAnnual Mean Wage
Alabama360$30.92$64,320
Arizona1470$28.71$59,710
Arkansas460$32.45$67,490
California3200$36.10$75,080
Colorado760$28.82$59,950
Connecticut530$32.26$67,090
Delaware60$34.58$71,930
DC30$28.96$60,230
Florida2550$31.43$65,370
Georgia560$32.09$66,740
Hawaii80$35.25$73,330
Idaho120$25.36$52,740
Illinois2330$30.22$62,860
Indiana930$26.21$54,510
Iowa340$27.39$56,960
Kansas380$28.20$58,650
Kentucky540$30.91$64,300
Louisiana660$30.44$63,310
Maine80$27.04$56,250
Maryland700$32.01$66,580
Massachusetts1090$31.62$65,760
Michigan1430$25.98$54,040
Minnesota660$26.22$54,540
Mississippi470$28.93$60,180
Missouri680$27.03$56,230
Montana50$27.75$57,720
Nebraska210$28.19$58,630
Nevada240$37.55$78,100
New Hampshire110$31.55$65,620
New Jersey640$35.03$72,860
New Mexico240$33.56$69,800
New York2310$31.19$64,870
North Carolina1180$31.78$66,100
North Dakota100$26.98$56,130
Ohio3410$29.69$61,760
Oklahoma540$29.69$61,760
Oregon260$30.62$63,680
Pennsylvania2690$26.84$55,820
Rhode Island230$29.90$62,190
South Carolina520$30.85$64,160
South Dakota70$22.32$46,420
Tennessee1070$29.10$60,520
Texas4050$34.02$70,770
Utah250$30.57$63,580
Vermont40$30.48$63,400
Virginia1030$32.01$66,580
Washington620$31.27$65,050
West Virginia240$28.12$58,500
Wisconsin1280$24.88$51,760
Wyoming70$29.02$60,360