Occupational Therapy Aides Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for occupational therapy aides is $39,160, or $18.83 per hour. About 4,310 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $66,190 in North Carolina to $24,300 in Mississippi.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 27 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | $66,190 | $31.82 | 250 | 1.86 |
| 2 | New York | $46,220 | $22.22 | 250 | 0.93 |
| 3 | Washington | $45,890 | $22.06 | 190 | 1.93 |
| 4 | Nebraska | $44,980 | $21.63 | 90 | 3.17 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $44,840 | $21.56 | 110 | 2.42 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $44,470 | $21.38 | — | — |
| 7 | California | $43,480 | $20.91 | 330 | 0.65 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $43,170 | $20.75 | 50 | 2.08 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $40,160 | $19.31 | 90 | 0.92 |
| 10 | Colorado | $40,110 | $19.28 | 40 | 0.49 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $39,620 | $19.05 | — | — |
| 12 | Michigan | $39,050 | $18.78 | 60 | 0.51 |
| 13 | Missouri | $38,890 | $18.70 | 110 | 1.38 |
| 14 | Indiana | $38,250 | $18.39 | — | — |
| 15 | Georgia | $38,090 | $18.31 | 200 | 1.50 |
| 16 | Texas | $37,180 | $17.88 | 410 | 1.05 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $37,100 | $17.84 | 320 | 1.88 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $36,760 | $17.67 | 40 | 0.55 |
| 19 | Nevada | $36,440 | $17.52 | 100 | 2.30 |
| 20 | Ohio | $36,380 | $17.49 | 200 | 1.29 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $34,670 | $16.67 | 90 | 1.84 |
| 22 | Maryland | $33,310 | $16.02 | — | — |
| 23 | Idaho | $32,590 | $15.67 | 120 | 5.07 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $31,950 | $15.36 | 50 | 0.81 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $28,560 | $13.73 | 70 | 1.24 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $27,840 | $13.39 | 40 | 0.45 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $24,300 | $11.68 | 50 | 1.43 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do occupational therapy aides make?
The median annual wage for occupational therapy aides in the United States is $39,160, or $18.83 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $29,430, and the top 10% earn $70,200.
How many occupational therapy aides are employed in the U.S.?
About 4,310 people work as occupational therapy aides nationwide.
Which state pays occupational therapy aides the most?
North Carolina pays the most at a median of $66,190, followed by New York ($46,220) and Washington ($45,890).
Which state pays occupational therapy aides the least?
Mississippi has the lowest median at $24,300.
Where are occupational therapy aides jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Idaho at 5.07×.