SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 31-2011.
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 | $51,490 | $4,291 | $990 | $24.76 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $61,710 | $5,142 | $1,187 | $29.67 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $72,300 | $6,025 | $1,390 | $34.76 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $79,160 | $6,597 | $1,522 | $38.06 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $89,780 | $7,482 | $1,727 | $43.16 |
* 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 Assistants is $72,300, which is 42% higher. Among the 17 occupations of the field Healthcare Support, it ranks number 1 by median pay. With 51,290 jobs, it makes up about 3.3 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Occupational Therapy Assistants pay by state
The highest median pay was in Maryland ($82,010), California ($81,770) and Texas ($81,500). The lowest was in Alaska ($53,530), South Dakota ($56,180) and Wisconsin ($59,960). The most jobs were in Texas (5,610), Florida (3,910) and Ohio (3,890). The occupation is most concentrated in Ohio, where its share of all jobs is 2.1 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 710 | $82,010 | $79,890 | $39.43 |
| California | 3,840 | $81,770 | $84,690 | $39.31 |
| Texas | 5,610 | $81,500 | $79,750 | $39.19 |
| Nevada | 220 | $79,510 | $77,290 | $38.23 |
| Arkansas | 730 | $78,940 | $76,900 | $37.95 |
| Delaware | 220 | $78,640 | $75,930 | $37.81 |
| Washington | 720 | $77,590 | $76,310 | $37.30 |
| New Mexico | 300 | $77,020 | $71,550 | $37.03 |
| Oregon | 250 | $76,850 | $76,610 | $36.95 |
| Georgia | 1,060 | $75,920 | $72,080 | $36.50 |
| Colorado | 710 | $75,340 | $76,690 | $36.22 |
| Massachusetts | 1,410 | $75,040 | $68,340 | $36.08 |
| New Jersey | 1,080 | $74,960 | $77,640 | $36.04 |
| Virginia | 1,130 | $74,960 | $73,140 | $36.04 |
| South Carolina | 830 | $73,740 | $70,480 | $35.45 |
| Arizona | 1,120 | $73,490 | $72,100 | $35.33 |
| Montana | 60 | $72,800 | $73,590 | $35.00 |
| Connecticut | 820 | $72,780 | $70,500 | $34.99 |
| Hawaii | 60 | $72,710 | $71,270 | $34.96 |
| Florida | 3,910 | $71,630 | $70,310 | $34.44 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,560 | $71,590 | $67,750 | $34.42 |
| North Carolina | 1,590 | $69,390 | $69,270 | $33.36 |
| New York | 2,230 | $68,530 | $67,620 | $32.95 |
| New Hampshire | 150 | $67,790 | $68,050 | $32.59 |
| Rhode Island | 300 | $66,710 | $67,840 | $32.07 |
| Indiana | 1,490 | $66,660 | $67,160 | $32.05 |
| Oklahoma | 1,000 | $66,520 | $66,710 | $31.98 |
| District of Columbia | 60 | $66,390 | $71,110 | $31.92 |
| Louisiana | 760 | $66,090 | $65,660 | $31.77 |
| Utah | 280 | $66,080 | $66,980 | $31.77 |
| Missouri | 1,470 | $66,070 | $66,030 | $31.77 |
| Idaho | 210 | $65,330 | $66,160 | $31.41 |
| Kentucky | 500 | $65,230 | $65,360 | $31.36 |
| Kansas | 660 | $65,010 | $66,420 | $31.26 |
| Minnesota | 540 | $64,920 | $65,690 | $31.21 |
| Maine | 250 | $64,270 | $68,890 | $30.90 |
| Iowa | 400 | $64,140 | $63,970 | $30.84 |
| Illinois | 2,470 | $64,120 | $65,580 | $30.83 |
| Michigan | 1,250 | $63,260 | $65,400 | $30.41 |
| Nebraska | 210 | $63,180 | $62,520 | $30.38 |
| Wyoming | 80 | $62,750 | $60,890 | $30.17 |
| Ohio | 3,890 | $62,700 | $64,770 | $30.15 |
| Tennessee | 1,300 | $62,420 | $60,550 | $30.01 |
| Alabama | 750 | $62,250 | $63,660 | $29.93 |
| Mississippi | 420 | $61,650 | $63,530 | $29.64 |
| North Dakota | 130 | $60,970 | $58,980 | $29.31 |
| West Virginia | 340 | $60,370 | $63,680 | $29.02 |
| Wisconsin | 1,050 | $59,960 | $58,900 | $28.83 |
| South Dakota | 100 | $56,180 | $55,470 | $27.01 |
| Alaska | 60 | $53,530 | $59,400 | $25.74 |
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
- Physical Therapist Assistants$68,380 a year
- Massage Therapists$58,450 a year
- Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$48,430 a year
Common questions
How much do Occupational Therapy Assistants earn in the United States?
The median pay was $72,300 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $51,490 and the highest-paid 10% more than $89,780.
How many people work as Occupational Therapy Assistants?
About 51,290 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.