Salary · NC · SOC 31-2011

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

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for occupational therapy assistants in North Carolina, 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 North Carolina was $69,390 a year, or $33.36 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $55,130 to $83,360. About 1,590 were employed.

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Occupational Therapy Assistant pay in North Carolina vs the US

Occupational Therapy Assistant wages in North Carolina and the US, May 2025
Measure	NC annual	NC hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$69,390	$33.36	$72,300
Mean (average)	$69,270	$33.30	$70,710
10th percentile	$55,130	$26.50	$51,490
25th percentile	$62,110	$29.86	$61,710
75th percentile	$76,420	$36.74	$79,160
90th percentile	$83,360	$40.08	$89,780

Employment in North Carolina: 1,590. Location quotient: 0.97 (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 North Carolina

Occupational Therapy Assistant median wage by metro area, North Carolina
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$72,780	$34.99	450
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$75,620	$36.36	170
Winston-Salem, NC	$70,150	$33.73	90
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$74,290	$35.71	80
Wilmington, NC	$63,440	$30.50	80
Asheville, NC	$72,840	$35.02	70
Fayetteville, NC	$64,010	$30.78	70
Greenville, NC	$64,680	$31.09	70
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$63,120	$30.35	70
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$66,230	$31.84	60
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$65,730	$31.60	300

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

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Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in North Carolina

Median pay: $69,390 a year ($33.36 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $55,130 to $83,360 a year

Employed: 1,590

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 North Carolina</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$69,390</strong> a year ($33.36 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $55,130 to $83,360 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 1,590</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/nc" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a COTA make per hour in North Carolina?

The median hourly wage was $33.36 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $26.50 and the 90th was $40.08.

What is the average COTA salary in North Carolina?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $69,270 a year and a median of $69,390 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

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

The North Carolina median of $69,390 is 4% lower than the US median of $72,300 (BLS, May 2025).

How does North Carolina rank for occupational therapy assistant pay?

North Carolina ranks 22 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.