Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants in the U.S. is $72,300 ($34.76 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $72,300
- Mean annual wage
- $70,710
- Median hourly wage
- $34.76
- Employment
- 51,290
51,290 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $51,490 | $24.76 |
| 25th percentile | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| Median (50th) | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| 75th percentile | $79,160 | $38.06 |
| 90th percentile | $89,780 | $43.16 |
Highest-paying states for occupational therapy assistants
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $82,010 | 710 |
| California | $81,770 | 3,840 |
| Texas | $81,500 | 5,610 |
| Nevada | $79,510 | 220 |
| Arkansas | $78,940 | 730 |
| Delaware | $78,640 | 220 |
| Washington | $77,590 | 720 |
| New Mexico | $77,020 | 300 |
| Oregon | $76,850 | 250 |
| Georgia | $75,920 | 1,060 |
Lowest-paying states
- Alaska: $53,530 median annual wage
- South Dakota: $56,180 median annual wage
- Wisconsin: $59,960 median annual wage
- West Virginia: $60,370 median annual wage
- North Dakota: $60,970 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.
- Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records.
- Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.
- Demonstrate therapy techniques, such as manual or creative arts or games.
- Perform clerical duties, such as scheduling appointments, collecting data, or documenting health insurance billings.
- Assist educational specialists or clinical psychologists in administering situational or diagnostic tests to measure client's abilities or progress.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Associate's degree
| 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.
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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.