Salary · IA · SOC 31-2011

Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) salary in Iowa, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for occupational therapy assistants in Iowa, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for occupational therapy assistants in Iowa was $64,140 a year, or $30.84 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $47,670 to $79,800. About 400 were employed.

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Occupational Therapy Assistant pay in Iowa vs the US

Occupational Therapy Assistant wages in Iowa and the US, May 2025
Measure	IA annual	IA hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$64,140	$30.84	$72,300
Mean (average)	$63,970	$30.75	$70,710
10th percentile	$47,670	$22.92	$51,490
25th percentile	$52,990	$25.48	$61,710
75th percentile	$74,660	$35.89	$79,160
90th percentile	$79,800	$38.36	$89,780

Employment in Iowa: 400. Location quotient: 0.77 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Occupational Therapy Assistant salary by metro area in Iowa

Occupational Therapy Assistant median wage by metro area, Iowa
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$64,250	$30.89	80
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$61,510	$29.57	60
Cedar Rapids, IA	$52,560	$25.27	50
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	$61,560	$29.60	40
Omaha, NE-IA	$65,930	$31.70	80

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in Iowa

Median pay: $64,140 a year ($30.84 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $47,670 to $79,800 a year

Employed: 400

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in Iowa</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$64,140</strong> a year ($30.84 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $47,670 to $79,800 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 400</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/occupational-therapy-assistant/ia" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a COTA make per hour in Iowa?

The median hourly wage was $30.84 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $22.92 and the 90th was $38.36.

What is the average COTA salary in Iowa?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $63,970 a year and a median of $64,140 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do occupational therapy assistants in Iowa earn more than the US median?

The Iowa median of $64,140 is 11% lower than the US median of $72,300 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Iowa rank for occupational therapy assistant pay?

Iowa ranks 37 of 50 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for occupational therapy assistants (BLS, May 2025).

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.