Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021
31-2011 Occupational Therapy Assistants
Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training.
National estimates for Occupational Therapy Assistants
Industry profile for Occupational Therapy Assistants
Geographic profile for Occupational Therapy Assistants
National estimates for Occupational Therapy Assistants:
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Occupational Therapy Assistants:
Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) Mean hourly
wage Mean annual
wage (2) Wage RSE (3) 41,980 2.6 % $ 30.56 $ 63,560 0.6 %
Percentile wage estimates for Occupational Therapy Assistants:
Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 75% 90% Hourly Wage $ 22.50 $ 24.46 $ 29.68 $ 36.90 $ 38.56 Annual Wage (2) $ 46,810 $ 50,880 $ 61,730 $ 76,740 $ 80,210
Industry profile for Occupational Therapy Assistants:
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Occupational Therapy Assistants are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Occupational Therapy Assistants, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Occupational Therapy Assistants:
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Occupational Therapy Assistants:
Top paying industries for Occupational Therapy Assistants:
Geographic profile for Occupational Therapy Assistants:
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Occupational Therapy Assistants are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Occupational Therapy Assistants, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Occupational Therapy Assistants:
State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2) Texas 4,050 0.33 1.11 $ 34.02 $ 70,770 Ohio 3,410 0.66 2.20 $ 29.69 $ 61,760 California 3,200 0.19 0.65 $ 36.10 $ 75,080 Pennsylvania 2,690 0.48 1.62 $ 26.84 $ 55,820 Florida 2,550 0.30 1.00 $ 31.43 $ 65,370
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Occupational Therapy Assistants:
State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2) Ohio 3,410 0.66 2.20 $ 29.69 $ 61,760 Arizona 1,470 0.51 1.71 $ 28.71 $ 59,710 Rhode Island 230 0.50 1.66 $ 29.90 $ 62,190 Pennsylvania 2,690 0.48 1.62 $ 26.84 $ 55,820 Wisconsin 1,280 0.47 1.56 $ 24.88 $ 51,760
Top paying states for Occupational Therapy Assistants:
State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2) Nevada 240 0.18 0.62 $ 37.55 $ 78,100 California 3,200 0.19 0.65 $ 36.10 $ 75,080 Hawaii 80 0.15 0.50 $ 35.25 $ 73,330 New Jersey 640 0.17 0.56 $ 35.03 $ 72,860 Delaware 60 0.13 0.45 $ 34.58 $ 71,930
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Occupational Therapy Assistants:
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Occupational Therapy Assistants:
Top paying metropolitan areas for Occupational Therapy Assistants:
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Occupational Therapy Assistants:
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Occupational Therapy Assistants:
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Occupational Therapy Assistants:
About May 2021 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a “year-round, full-time” hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OEWS estimates and related information:
May 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2021 Occupation Profiles
Technical Notes
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How Much Does an Occupational Therapy Assistant Make?
Occupational Therapy Assistants made a median salary of $62,940 in 2020. The best-paid 25 percent made $74,770 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $53,640.
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Best-Paying Cities for Occupational Therapy Assistants
The metropolitan areas that pay the highest salary in the occupational therapy assistant profession are Sacramento, McAllen, Visalia, Santa Rosa, and Salinas.
Sacramento, California
$89,380
McAllen, Texas
$86,850
Visalia, California
$84,370
Santa Rosa, California
$83,440
Salinas, California
$83,110
The 5 Best-Paying Cities for Occupational Therapy Assistants
Best-Paying States for Occupational Therapy Assistants
The states and districts that pay Occupational Therapy Assistants the highest mean salary are California ($73,930), Nevada ($73,930), New Jersey ($71,680), Texas ($69,420), and Connecticut ($68,780).
California
$73,930
Nevada
$73,930
New Jersey
$71,680
Texas
$69,420
Connecticut
$68,780
How Much Do Occupational Therapy Assistants Make in Your City?
See current salary offers for jobs in your field.
Average Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay vs. Other Best Jobs
$63,420
in 2020. Comparable jobs earned the following average salary in 2020:
Occupational Therapy Assistants earned an average salary ofin 2020. Comparable jobs earned the following average salary in 2020: Physician Assistants made $116,080, Occupational Therapists made $87,480, Occupational Therapy Aides made $34,160, and Home Health Aides made $28,060.
150,000
112,500
75,000
37,500
0
150,000
112,500
75,000
37,500
0
Physician Assistant
Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Occupational Therapy Aide
Home Health Aide
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 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
How much does a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant make hourly in the United States? The average hourly wage for a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant in the United States is $31 as of November 23, 2022, but the range typically falls between $28 and $34. Hourly rate can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Jobs with a similar salary range to Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant : Continuity Director, Clinical Quality Coordinator
OTA Salary + What You’ll Do, and Where You’ll Work
Communications Staff
Posted February 7, 2020
No one wants to take on a career where the pay isn’t great and the work isn’t personally satisfying. Before you “lock onto” a job idea because you think it’s the right move…take a deep breath. Now’s the time to explore three things about becoming an occupational therapy assistant (OTA): what you’ll do, where you’ll get to go, and the OTA salary itself.
But First…About That OTA Salary
OK, so you don’t want to wait for the details about OTA salary. Who could blame you? Making a competitive yearly salary has to be a big-time consideration, especially when you have – or want – a family or you want a professional career that’s respected and needed.
Here are three quick facts showing how OTAs are viewed in today’s healthcare world:
- OTAs have a fast track to competitive pay. OTAs are getting into the workforce in two years by earning an Associate of Applied Science degree. The learning is fast-paced and very much hands-on. More than 81% of OTAs earn the A.A.S. degree in OTA, according to an industry survey.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates job growth for OTAs at 30% between 2020 and 2030, nearly three times faster than the average growth for all occupations.
- While all healthcare support positions earned an average of $29,740 in 2019, newly certified occupational therapy assistants earn an average of $40-45,000 in OTA salary (+ benefits) depending on employer demand and geographic area.
OTA Salary: What You’ll Do
Are you unsure what occupational therapy is and what OTAs do in this unique healthcare role? You’re not alone, especially if you haven’t explored how the expanding use of occupational therapy gives people of all ages their best possible life.
To realize this goal, occupational therapy encompasses a whole-person approach to improving health and wellness. Occupational therapy is about finding individualized ways to help people struggling with emotional, developmental, cognitive, and sensory issues.
OTAs are directly involved in giving therapy to people, and seeing the progress makes this job exceptionally rewarding over one’s lifetime.
Ways You’ll Earn the OTA Salary
It’s very different than physical therapy assistants (PTA) and aides, who only focus on physical function. The differences are explained nicely in this blog post.
Knowing all that, you can see why the in-depth, multifaceted knowledge OTAs receive in an Associate of Applied Science (two-year) degree program shows up in the OTA salary range and in the multitude of places OTAs apply their talents and abilities:
- Occupational Therapist offices
OTs and OTAs team up to carry out treatment plans - Hospitals
Work with patients to ensure better post-surgery recovery - Schools districts
Carry out specific therapies with kids, such as to increase attentiveness, or develop fine-motor skills for handwriting - Home health care agencies
Assess the level of assistance needed by their clients - Corporate settings
Assist employees in returning to work - In the home
Providing adaptions that help those with cognitive decline or limited physical mobility to stay in their home
There’s a Place for You
If you can imagine yourself as an OTA, you might be curious to see where you can find the best possible workplace for you.
Got a love for the ocean? The west coast and east coast states are showing some of the highest annual OTA salaries: a median wage of $62,530 and more for OTAs in the field today, depending on geographic location, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Meanwhile, the top-paying states for OTAs with experience are Texas, New Jersey, Nevada, and California, averaging just over $69,800 per employee.
And if you’re thinking city life fits you best, top-tier population destinations include the New York-New Jersey corridor, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston/The Woodlands area, Phoenix/Mesa, Ariz., and Miami/Ft. Lauderdale in Florida.
The 2-Year Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at CUKC
Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a nonprofit, private, healthcare-focused university located in Overland Park, Kansas.
The two-year Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Occupational Therapy Assistant Degree Program at CUKC includes 15 core courses along with the four-to-five months of required fieldwork experience. For better learning outcomes, the coursework is presented in eight-week segments.
At CUKC, the OTA program offers class starts in spring and fall each year.
Other features of the CUKC program:
- Incorporates the latest techniques and procedures, including on-campus simulated living quarters
- Prepares you to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
- Full accreditation by the American Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
Look, we know OTA salary is only part of loving the job you choose. That’s why you’ll want to learn more by getting this free ebook: Your Complete Guide to an Occupational Therapy Assistant Career.
