Salary · IL · SOC 31-2011

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

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for occupational therapy assistants in Illinois, 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 Illinois was $64,120 a year, or $30.83 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $47,830 to $80,150. About 2,470 were employed.

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Occupational Therapy Assistant pay in Illinois vs the US

Occupational Therapy Assistant wages in Illinois and the US, May 2025
Measure	IL annual	IL hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$64,120	$30.83	$72,300
Mean (average)	$65,580	$31.53	$70,710
10th percentile	$47,830	$23.00	$51,490
25th percentile	$59,460	$28.59	$61,710
75th percentile	$73,850	$35.50	$79,160
90th percentile	$80,150	$38.54	$89,780

Employment in Illinois: 2,470. Location quotient: 1.23 (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 Illinois

Occupational Therapy Assistant median wage by metro area, Illinois
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$67,840	$32.61	1,710
Peoria, IL	$55,210	$26.54	100
Champaign-Urbana, IL	$60,840	$29.25	70
Bloomington, IL	$60,050	$28.87	50
Rockford, IL	$62,640	$30.11	40
Springfield, IL	$67,140	$32.28	40
St. Louis, MO-IL	$67,450	$32.43	780
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	$62,010	$29.81	60
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$61,510	$29.57	60

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

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Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in Illinois

Median pay: $64,120 a year ($30.83 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $47,830 to $80,150 a year

Employed: 2,470

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 Illinois</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$64,120</strong> a year ($30.83 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $47,830 to $80,150 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 2,470</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/il" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a COTA make per hour in Illinois?

The median hourly wage was $30.83 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $23.00 and the 90th was $38.54.

What is the average COTA salary in Illinois?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $65,580 a year and a median of $64,120 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

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

The Illinois median of $64,120 is 11% lower than the US median of $72,300 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Illinois rank for occupational therapy assistant pay?

Illinois ranks 38 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.