Occupational therapy assistants salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,490 | $24.76 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| Mean (average) | $70,710 | $33.99 |
| 90th percentile | $89,780 | $43.16 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Occupational therapy assistants pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $62,250 | $50,120 | $79,600 | 750 | 1.07 |
| Alaska | $53,530 | $34,110 | $95,900 | 60 | 0.56 |
| Arizona | $73,490 | $53,810 | $89,880 | 1,120 | 1.04 |
| Arkansas | $78,940 | $50,710 | $98,960 | 730 | 1.69 |
| California | $81,770 | $65,680 | $104,990 | 3,840 | 0.64 |
| Colorado | $75,340 | $60,880 | $100,190 | 710 | 0.75 |
| Connecticut | $72,780 | $60,180 | $81,400 | 820 | 1.46 |
| Delaware | $78,640 | $63,970 | $82,070 | 220 | 1.39 |
| District of Columbia | $66,390 | $57,450 | $85,660 | 60 | 0.27 |
| Florida | $71,630 | $59,890 | $79,350 | 3,910 | 1.19 |
| Georgia | $75,920 | $55,840 | $86,830 | 1,060 | 0.66 |
| Hawaii | $72,710 | $65,660 | $77,280 | 60 | 0.28 |
| Idaho | $65,330 | $59,820 | $74,720 | 210 | 0.76 |
| Illinois | $64,120 | $47,830 | $80,150 | 2,470 | 1.23 |
| Indiana | $66,660 | $43,340 | $86,870 | 1,490 | 1.41 |
| Iowa | $64,140 | $47,670 | $79,800 | 400 | 0.77 |
| Kansas | $65,010 | $55,120 | $77,410 | 660 | 1.39 |
| Kentucky | $65,230 | $50,840 | $77,270 | 500 | 0.76 |
| Louisiana | $66,090 | $31,530 | $83,200 | 760 | 1.18 |
| Maine | $64,270 | $53,230 | $81,220 | 250 | 1.17 |
| Maryland | $82,010 | $62,380 | $95,520 | 710 | 0.78 |
| Massachusetts | $75,040 | $42,120 | $82,180 | 1,410 | 1.18 |
| Michigan | $63,260 | $52,270 | $79,310 | 1,250 | 0.86 |
| Minnesota | $64,920 | $56,360 | $73,040 | 540 | 0.56 |
| Mississippi | $61,650 | $51,920 | $78,320 | 420 | 1.09 |
| Missouri | $66,070 | $50,990 | $80,930 | 1,470 | 1.52 |
| Montana | $72,800 | $59,060 | $94,510 | 60 | 0.33 |
| Nebraska | $63,180 | $47,490 | $77,840 | 210 | 0.61 |
| Nevada | $79,510 | $61,530 | $97,590 | 220 | 0.42 |
| New Hampshire | $67,790 | $48,410 | $85,610 | 150 | 0.66 |
| New Jersey | $74,960 | $65,550 | $100,700 | 1,080 | 0.76 |
| New Mexico | $77,020 | $36,820 | $94,000 | 300 | 1.04 |
| New York | $68,530 | $49,050 | $83,200 | 2,230 | 0.7 |
| North Carolina | $69,390 | $55,130 | $83,360 | 1,590 | 0.97 |
| North Dakota | $60,970 | $48,760 | $65,540 | 130 | 0.94 |
| Ohio | $62,700 | $49,500 | $79,600 | 3,890 | 2.13 |
| Oklahoma | $66,520 | $51,710 | $79,320 | 1,000 | 1.77 |
| Oregon | $76,850 | $65,190 | $86,010 | 250 | 0.38 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,590 | $55,690 | $77,790 | 2,560 | 1.28 |
| Rhode Island | $66,710 | $58,220 | $75,560 | 300 | 1.8 |
| South Carolina | $73,740 | $52,050 | $87,860 | 830 | 1.1 |
| South Dakota | $56,180 | $40,110 | $72,800 | 100 | 0.65 |
| Tennessee | $62,420 | $23,910 | $78,950 | 1,300 | 1.2 |
| Texas | $81,500 | $60,980 | $95,900 | 5,610 | 1.21 |
| Utah | $66,080 | $42,690 | $94,870 | 280 | 0.48 |
| Virginia | $74,960 | $57,250 | $89,560 | 1,130 | 0.84 |
| Washington | $77,590 | $62,960 | $88,250 | 720 | 0.61 |
| West Virginia | $60,370 | $49,280 | $76,940 | 340 | 1.47 |
| Wisconsin | $59,960 | $44,620 | $72,940 | 1,050 | 1.08 |
| Wyoming | $62,750 | $37,680 | $74,430 | 80 | 0.88 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for occupational therapy assistants
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 8,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for occupational therapy assistants
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Occupational Therapist Assistant CIP 51.0803
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.
- Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.
- Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.
- Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently.
- Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement.
- Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records.
- Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities.
- Attend continuing education classes.
Technology skills
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Billing software
- Bookkeeping software
- BrainTrain Captain's Log
- BrainTrain IVA+Plus
- BrainTrain SmartDriver
- Client caseload management software
- Database software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Time Management, Instructing, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Acute Care Occupational Therapy Assistant (Acute Care OT Assistant), Certified Occupational Assistant, Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA), Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), Licensed Occupational Therapist Assistant (LOTA), Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (LOTA), Occupational Therapist Assistant (OTA), Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA), Registered Therapist Assistant, School Based Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (School Based COTA).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make?
The national median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants was $72,300 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $51,490 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $89,780. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do occupational therapy assistants need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is occupational therapy assistants a growing career?
BLS projects employment of occupational therapy assistants to change +21.5% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 8,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay occupational therapy assistants the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Maryland ($82,010), California ($81,770), Texas ($81,500). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.