Occupational Therapy Aides Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for occupational therapy aidess across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- North Carolina$61,360
- New Mexico$55,260
- Colorado$48,030
- Washington$47,830
- New York$47,660
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Mississippi$26,500
- Tennessee$31,980
- Idaho$33,260
- Maryland$34,330
- South Carolina$36,130
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina | $61,360 | $66,190 | $30 | +39.1% | 250 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $55,260 | $43,170 | $27 | +25.3% | 50 |
| 3 | Colorado | $48,030 | $40,110 | $23 | +8.9% | 40 |
| 4 | Washington | $47,830 | $45,890 | $23 | +8.4% | 190 |
| 5 | New York | $47,660 | $46,220 | $23 | +8% | 250 |
| 6 | California | $46,930 | $43,480 | $23 | +6.4% | 330 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $45,300 | $44,470 | $22 | +2.7% | — |
| 8 | Connecticut | $44,190 | $44,840 | $21 | +0.2% | 110 |
| 9 | Nevada | $43,750 | $36,440 | $21 | -0.8% | 100 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $43,720 | $44,980 | $21 | -0.9% | 90 |
| 11 | Texas | $42,920 | $37,180 | $21 | -2.7% | 410 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $42,480 | $39,620 | $20 | -3.7% | — |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $41,740 | $37,100 | $20 | -5.4% | 320 |
| 14 | Michigan | $41,270 | $39,050 | $20 | -6.4% | 60 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $41,220 | $40,160 | $20 | -6.6% | 90 |
| 16 | Georgia | $40,070 | $38,090 | $19 | -9.2% | 200 |
| 17 | Louisiana | $39,070 | $28,560 | $19 | -11.4% | 70 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $38,650 | $36,760 | $19 | -12.4% | 40 |
| 19 | Indiana | $38,550 | $38,250 | $19 | -12.6% | — |
| 20 | Missouri | $38,020 | $38,890 | $18 | -13.8% | 110 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $37,810 | $34,670 | $18 | -14.3% | 90 |
| 22 | Ohio | $36,980 | $36,380 | $18 | -16.2% | 200 |
| 23 | South Carolina | $36,130 | $31,950 | $17 | -18.1% | 50 |
| 24 | Maryland | $34,330 | $33,310 | $17 | -22.2% | — |
| 25 | Idaho | $33,260 | $32,590 | $16 | -24.6% | 120 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $31,980 | $27,840 | $15 | -27.5% | 40 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $26,500 | $24,300 | $13 | -39.9% | 50 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 22 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $68,550 | $63,840 | 30 |
| 2 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $46,320 | $44,600 | 40 |
| 3 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $46,260 | $47,100 | 200 |
| 4 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $45,840 | $57,570 | 100 |
| 5 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $44,980 | $45,830 | — |
| 6 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $43,270 | $43,350 | 50 |
| 7 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $42,790 | $46,320 | 110 |
| 8 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $41,400 | $45,490 | 70 |
| 9 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $40,200 | $44,000 | 70 |
| 10 | Omaha, NE-IA | $39,950 | $41,400 | 50 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing occupational therapy aidess (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Home Health Care Services | $77,720 | $73,850 | — |
| 2 | Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | $74,460 | $68,820 | 50 |
| 3 | Educational Services, Local Government Owned | $68,550 | $63,830 | 50 |
| 4 | Elementary and Secondary Schools | $68,550 | $59,670 | 60 |
| 5 | Elementary and Secondary Schools, Local Government Owned | $68,550 | $64,260 | 40 |
| 6 | Nursing and Residential Care Facilities | $52,000 | $55,890 | 410 |
| 7 | Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | $52,000 | $56,310 | 320 |
| 8 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $46,400 | $52,200 | 160 |
| 9 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $45,030 | $49,270 | 220 |
| 10 | Educational Services | $44,770 | $51,560 | 120 |
| 11 | Sector 61 - Educational Services | $44,770 | $51,560 | 120 |
| 12 | State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $42,050 | $41,980 | 60 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do occupational therapy aides make in the U.S.?
The median occupational therapy aides salary in the United States is $39,160 per year (mean $44,110), and about 80% earn between $29,430 and $70,200.
How much do occupational therapy aides make per hour?
Roughly $21 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $44,110 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays occupational therapy aides the most?
North Carolina has the highest average pay for occupational therapy aides at $61,360 per year (median $66,190).
What is the job outlook for occupational therapy aides?
Employment is projected to change +2.5% from 2024 to 2034 (About as fast as average), with about 600 openings per year.