Occupational Therapy Aides Salary
The median occupational therapy aides salary in the United States is $39,160 per year ($18.83/hour). Salaries range from $29,430 at the entry level to $70,200+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 4,310 occupational therapy aides jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 2.5% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$39,160
per year
Hourly Rate
$18.83
per hour
Employment
4,310
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$29,430
25th percentile
$35,920
Median
$39,160
75th percentile
$46,780
90th percentile
$70,200
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+2.5%
As fast as average
Annual Openings
600
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Training Needed
Short-term on-the-job training
Occupational Therapy Aides Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$24K$66K■ No data
Top Paying States
North Carolina
$66K
+69%
New York
$46K
+18%
Washington
$46K
+17%
Nebraska
$45K
+15%
Connecticut
$45K
+15%
New Jersey
$44K
+14%
California
$43K
+11%
New Mexico
$43K
+10%
Massachusetts
$40K
+3%
Colorado
$40K
+2%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $66,190 | +69.0% |
| New York | $46,220 | +18.0% |
| Washington | $45,890 | +17.2% |
| Nebraska | $44,980 | +14.9% |
| Connecticut | $44,840 | +14.5% |
| New Jersey | $44,470 | +13.6% |
| California | $43,480 | +11.0% |
| New Mexico | $43,170 | +10.2% |
| Massachusetts | $40,160 | +2.6% |
| Colorado | $40,110 | +2.4% |
Showing 1–10 of 27
Occupational Therapy Aides Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $68,550 | +75.1% |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $46,320 | +18.3% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $46,260 | +18.1% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $45,840 | +17.1% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,980 | +14.9% |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $43,270 | +10.5% |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $42,790 | +9.3% |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $41,400 | +5.7% |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $40,200 | +2.7% |
| Omaha, NE-IA | $39,950 | +2.0% |
Showing 1–10 of 22
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A occupational therapy aides earning $39,160/year would need 1522 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1634 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how occupational therapy aides salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Occupational Therapy Aides salary trend (2011–2024) →