Occupational Therapy Aides Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for occupational therapy aides in the U.S. is $39,160 ($18.83 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $39,160
- Mean annual wage
- $44,110
- Median hourly wage
- $18.83
- Employment
- 4,310
4,310 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,430 | $14.15 |
| 25th percentile | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| Median (50th) | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| 75th percentile | $46,780 | $22.49 |
| 90th percentile | $70,200 | $33.75 |
Highest-paying states for occupational therapy aides
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $66,190 | 250 |
| New York | $46,220 | 250 |
| Washington | $45,890 | 190 |
| Nebraska | $44,980 | 90 |
| Connecticut | $44,840 | 110 |
| New Jersey | $44,470 | — |
| California | $43,480 | 330 |
| New Mexico | $43,170 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $40,160 | 90 |
| Colorado | $40,110 | 40 |
Lowest-paying states
- Mississippi: $24,300 median annual wage
- Tennessee: $27,840 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $28,560 median annual wage
- South Carolina: $31,950 median annual wage
- Idaho: $32,590 median annual wage
About this occupation
Under close supervision of an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing patient and treatment room.
Typical tasks
- Assist occupational therapists in planning, implementing, and administering therapy programs to restore, reinforce, and enhance performance, using selected activities and special equipment.
- Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual and creative arts and games.
- Manage intradepartmental infection control and equipment security.
- Perform clerical, administrative, and secretarial duties, such as answering phones, restocking and ordering supplies, filling out paperwork, and scheduling appointments.
- Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress.
- Encourage patients and attend to their physical needs to facilitate the attainment of therapeutic goals.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 2.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 12.9% |
| Some college, no degree | 15.1% |
| Associate's degree | 47.7% |
| Bachelor's degree | 17.6% |
| Master's degree | 4.2% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
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- Physical Therapist Assistants$68,380
- Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$48,430
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.