Salary · SOC 31-2011
Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) salary and hourly pay
BLS data for May 2025: median, mean, and percentile pay, per year and per hour, for every state and the largest metro areas.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page
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Occupational Therapy Assistant pay in the US
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Median (50th percentile) | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| Mean (average) | $70,710 | $33.99 |
| 10th percentile | $51,490 | $24.76 |
| 25th percentile | $61,710 | $29.67 |
| 75th percentile | $79,160 | $38.06 |
| 90th percentile | $89,780 | $43.16 |
Employment: 51,290.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
Occupational Therapy Assistant salary by state
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $82,010 | $39.43 | 710 |
| California | $81,770 | $39.31 | 3,840 |
| Texas | $81,500 | $39.19 | 5,610 |
| Nevada | $79,510 | $38.23 | 220 |
| Arkansas | $78,940 | $37.95 | 730 |
| Delaware | $78,640 | $37.81 | 220 |
| Washington | $77,590 | $37.30 | 720 |
| New Mexico | $77,020 | $37.03 | 300 |
| Oregon | $76,850 | $36.95 | 250 |
| Georgia | $75,920 | $36.50 | 1,060 |
| Colorado | $75,340 | $36.22 | 710 |
| Massachusetts | $75,040 | $36.08 | 1,410 |
| New Jersey | $74,960 | $36.04 | 1,080 |
| Virginia | $74,960 | $36.04 | 1,130 |
| South Carolina | $73,740 | $35.45 | 830 |
| Arizona | $73,490 | $35.33 | 1,120 |
| Montana | $72,800 | $35.00 | 60 |
| Connecticut | $72,780 | $34.99 | 820 |
| Hawaii | $72,710 | $34.96 | 60 |
| Florida | $71,630 | $34.44 | 3,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,590 | $34.42 | 2,560 |
| North Carolina | $69,390 | $33.36 | 1,590 |
| New York | $68,530 | $32.95 | 2,230 |
| New Hampshire | $67,790 | $32.59 | 150 |
| Rhode Island | $66,710 | $32.07 | 300 |
| Indiana | $66,660 | $32.05 | 1,490 |
| Oklahoma | $66,520 | $31.98 | 1,000 |
| District of Columbia | $66,390 | $31.92 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $66,090 | $31.77 | 760 |
| Utah | $66,080 | $31.77 | 280 |
| Missouri | $66,070 | $31.77 | 1,470 |
| Idaho | $65,330 | $31.41 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $65,230 | $31.36 | 500 |
| Kansas | $65,010 | $31.26 | 660 |
| Minnesota | $64,920 | $31.21 | 540 |
| Maine | $64,270 | $30.90 | 250 |
| Iowa | $64,140 | $30.84 | 400 |
| Illinois | $64,120 | $30.83 | 2,470 |
| Michigan | $63,260 | $30.41 | 1,250 |
| Nebraska | $63,180 | $30.38 | 210 |
| Wyoming | $62,750 | $30.17 | 80 |
| Ohio | $62,700 | $30.15 | 3,890 |
| Tennessee | $62,420 | $30.01 | 1,300 |
| Alabama | $62,250 | $29.93 | 750 |
| Mississippi | $61,650 | $29.64 | 420 |
| North Dakota | $60,970 | $29.31 | 130 |
| West Virginia | $60,370 | $29.02 | 340 |
| Wisconsin | $59,960 | $28.83 | 1,050 |
| South Dakota | $56,180 | $27.01 | 100 |
| Alaska | $53,530 | $25.74 | 60 |
Download the state table (CSV)
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in the largest metro areas
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
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Questions
How much does a COTA make per hour in the US?
The median hourly wage was $34.76 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $24.76 and the 90th was $43.16.
What is the average COTA salary in the US?
BLS reports a mean (average) of $70,710 a year and a median of $72,300 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.
Which state pays occupational therapy assistants the most?
Maryland has the highest median, $82,010 a year, and Alaska the lowest, $53,530 (BLS, May 2025, states with a published median).
Where do these numbers come from?
The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 31-2011. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.