How much does a Occupational Therapy Assistants make?

The median annual wage for Occupational Therapy Assistants is $72,300 ($35 per hour). Pay ranges from about $51,490 at the 10th percentile to $89,780 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Occupational Therapy Assistants?

The average (mean) annual salary is $70,710, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Occupational Therapy Assistantss the most?

Maryland has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $82,010.

Is Occupational Therapy Assistants a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 51K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Occupational Therapy Assistants do?

Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.; Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.; Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior..

Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary

Healthcare Support Occupations · 51K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$72,300

Median hourly

$35

Average annual

$70,710

Typical range

$51,490–$89,780

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$51,490

25th$61,710

Median$72,300

75th$79,160

90th$89,780

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Occupational Therapy Assistants is $72,300 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $35 an hour at a full-time schedule.

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.

Most earn between $51,490 and $89,780 a year. There are roughly 51K people employed as occupational therapy assistants in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Occupational Therapy Assistants.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $34.76
Daily: $278
Weekly: $1,390
Bi-weekly: $2,781
Monthly: $6,025
Annual: $72,300

$72,300 a year is around the 50th percentile for Occupational Therapy Assistantss. The median is $72,300.

Occupational Therapy Assistants — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$24.80	$51,490
25th percentile	$29.70	$61,710
Median	$34.80	$72,300
75th percentile	$38.10	$79,160
90th percentile	$43.20	$89,780
Average (mean)	$34.00	$70,710
Employment	51,290 people

Key skills

Active Listening
Speaking
Social Perceptiveness
Service Orientation
Reading Comprehension
Time Management
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Writing
Active Learning

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1Maryland$82,010
2California$81,770
3Texas$81,500
4Nevada$79,510
5Arkansas$78,940
6Delaware$78,640
7Washington$77,590
8New Mexico$77,020
9Oregon$76,850
10Georgia$75,920
11Colorado$75,340
12Massachusetts$75,040

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$97,860
2Modesto, CA$96,210
3San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$95,370
4Bakersfield-Delano, CA$95,190
5Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$95,180
6Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$88,250
7Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$86,440
8Spartanburg, SC$86,040
9Boulder, CO$84,860
10Stockton-Lodi, CA$84,400
11San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$82,680
12Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$82,620

Related job titles

Employers advertise Occupational Therapy Assistants roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Occupational Therapy Assistants does

Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.
Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.
Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior.
Implement, or assist occupational therapists with implementing, treatment plans designed to help clients function independently.
Monitor patients' performance in therapy activities, providing encouragement.
Observe and record patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior and maintain this information in client records.
Select therapy activities to fit patients' needs and capabilities.
Attend continuing education classes.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Occupational Therapy Assistants make?: The median annual wage for Occupational Therapy Assistants is $72,300 ($35 per hour). Pay ranges from about $51,490 at the 10th percentile to $89,780 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Occupational Therapy Assistants?: The average (mean) annual salary is $70,710, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Occupational Therapy Assistantss the most?: Maryland has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $82,010.
Is Occupational Therapy Assistants a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 51K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Occupational Therapy Assistants do?: Instruct, or assist in instructing, patients and families in home programs, basic living skills, or the care and use of adaptive equipment.; Maintain and promote a positive attitude toward clients and their treatment programs.; Report to supervisors, verbally or in writing, on patients' progress, attitudes, and behavior..