SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 31-2012.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $29,430 | $2,452 | $566 | $14.15 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $35,920 | $2,993 | $691 | $17.27 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $39,160 | $3,263 | $753 | $18.83 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $46,780 | $3,898 | $900 | $22.49 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $70,200 | $5,850 | $1,350 | $33.75 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Occupational Therapy Aides is $39,160, which is 23% lower. Among the 17 occupations of the field Healthcare Support, it ranks number 12 by median pay. With 4,310 jobs, it makes up about 0.3 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($44,110) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Occupational Therapy Aides pay by state
The highest median pay was in North Carolina ($66,190), New York ($46,220) and Washington ($45,890). The lowest was in Mississippi ($24,300), Tennessee ($27,840) and Louisiana ($28,560). The most jobs were in Texas (410), California (330) and Pennsylvania (320). The occupation is most concentrated in Idaho, where its share of all jobs is 5.1 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 250 | $66,190 | $61,360 | $31.82 |
| New York | 250 | $46,220 | $47,660 | $22.22 |
| Washington | 190 | $45,890 | $47,830 | $22.06 |
| Nebraska | 90 | $44,980 | $43,720 | $21.63 |
| Connecticut | 110 | $44,840 | $44,190 | $21.56 |
| New Jersey | not published | $44,470 | $45,300 | $21.38 |
| California | 330 | $43,480 | $46,930 | $20.91 |
| New Mexico | 50 | $43,170 | $55,260 | $20.75 |
| Massachusetts | 90 | $40,160 | $41,220 | $19.31 |
| Colorado | 40 | $40,110 | $48,030 | $19.28 |
| District of Columbia | not published | $39,620 | $42,480 | $19.05 |
| Michigan | 60 | $39,050 | $41,270 | $18.78 |
| Missouri | 110 | $38,890 | $38,020 | $18.70 |
| Indiana | not published | $38,250 | $38,550 | $18.39 |
| Georgia | 200 | $38,090 | $40,070 | $18.31 |
| Texas | 410 | $37,180 | $42,920 | $17.88 |
| Pennsylvania | 320 | $37,100 | $41,740 | $17.84 |
| Wisconsin | 40 | $36,760 | $38,650 | $17.67 |
| Nevada | 100 | $36,440 | $43,750 | $17.52 |
| Ohio | 200 | $36,380 | $36,980 | $17.49 |
| Oklahoma | 90 | $34,670 | $37,810 | $16.67 |
| Maryland | not published | $33,310 | $34,330 | $16.02 |
| Idaho | 120 | $32,590 | $33,260 | $15.67 |
| South Carolina | 50 | $31,950 | $36,130 | $15.36 |
| Louisiana | 70 | $28,560 | $39,070 | $13.73 |
| Tennessee | 40 | $27,840 | $31,980 | $13.39 |
| Mississippi | 50 | $24,300 | $26,500 | $11.68 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Psychiatric Aides$44,910 a year
- Nursing Assistants$42,260 a year
- Medical Transcriptionists$40,410 a year
- Orderlies$38,290 a year
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$38,150 a year
- Pharmacy Aides$37,680 a year
Common questions
How much do Occupational Therapy Aides earn in the United States?
The median pay was $39,160 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $29,430 and the highest-paid 10% more than $70,200.
How many people work as Occupational Therapy Aides?
About 4,310 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.