Healthcare

Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary

OT assistants help patients develop and recover daily living and work skills under the direction of occupational therapists.

Median Salary
$65,420
Mean Salary
$67,800
Total Employed
47,600
Job Growth
+25%

Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary by Experience Level

Entry-level occupational therapy assistants earn around $44,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $66,000. Senior-level occupational therapy assistants can earn $88,000 or more.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$44,000
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$66,000
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$88,000

Salary Percentile Breakdown

The salary range for occupational therapy assistants varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $42,000, while the top 10% earn $92,000.

Percentile Annual Salary
10th Percentile $42,000
25th Percentile $52,000
50th Percentile (Median) $65,420
75th Percentile $80,000
90th Percentile $92,000

Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary by State

Occupational Therapy Assistant salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $116,448, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $52,990.

State Median
#1 Hawaii $116,448 Details →
#2 California $95,513 Details →
#3 Massachusetts $93,551 Details →
#4 Alaska $84,392 Details →
#5 New York $83,083 Details →
#6 New Jersey $78,504 Details →
#7 Washington $77,850 Details →
#8 Connecticut $75,887 Details →
#9 Maryland $74,579 Details →
#10 Oregon $73,270 Details →
#11 New Hampshire $70,654 Details →
#12 Rhode Island $70,654 Details →
#13 Colorado $69,999 Details →
#14 Virginia $69,345 Details →
#15 Delaware $67,383 Details →
#16 Vermont $67,383 Details →
#17 Minnesota $66,074 Details →
#18 Florida $65,420 Details →
#19 Maine $65,420 Details →
#20 Nevada $64,766 Details →
#21 Pennsylvania $64,766 Details →
#22 Arizona $63,457 Details →
#23 Illinois $63,457 Details →
#24 Utah $63,457 Details →
#25 Texas $61,495 Details →
#26 Wisconsin $61,495 Details →
#27 Georgia $60,841 Details →
#28 Montana $60,841 Details →
#29 Idaho $60,186 Details →
#30 North Carolina $60,186 Details →
#31 Ohio $60,186 Details →
#32 Louisiana $59,532 Details →
#33 New Mexico $59,532 Details →
#34 Tennessee $59,532 Details →
#35 Indiana $58,878 Details →
#36 Michigan $58,878 Details →
#37 Nebraska $58,878 Details →
#38 North Dakota $58,878 Details →
#39 Wyoming $58,878 Details →
#40 Iowa $58,224 Details →
#41 South Carolina $58,224 Details →
#42 Missouri $57,570 Details →
#43 South Dakota $57,570 Details →
#44 Alabama $56,915 Details →
#45 Kansas $56,915 Details →
#46 Kentucky $56,915 Details →
#47 Oklahoma $54,953 Details →
#48 Arkansas $53,644 Details →
#49 West Virginia $53,644 Details →
#50 Mississippi $52,990 Details →

Key Responsibilities

  • Assist patients with therapeutic exercises
  • Help patients practice daily living skills
  • Document patient progress
  • Set up therapy equipment
  • Follow treatment plans from OTs

Top Skills

Therapeutic Exercises Patient Care Documentation Communication Adaptability Compassion

Education Required

Associate's degree

Job Outlook

Much faster than average — projected 25% growth over the next decade