Salary · Metro area · SOC 31-2011

Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025 for the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metropolitan statistical area.

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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC was $66,230 a year, or $31.84 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $47,850 to $84,420. About 60 were employed.

Run it in Rivvi

Compare occupational therapy assistant pay in Durham with nearby markets

Compare in Rivvi

Free to start, no card. Opens Rivvi, the AI workspace for healthcare teams, with this question filled in.

Annual pay: Durham vs North Carolina vs the US

Occupational Therapy Assistant annual wages, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, North Carolina, and US
MeasureThis metroNorth CarolinaUS
Median (50th percentile)$66,230$69,390$72,300
Mean (average)$68,460$69,270$70,710
10th percentile$47,850$55,130$51,490
25th percentile$54,960$62,110$61,710
75th percentile$77,440$76,420$79,160
90th percentile$84,420$83,360$89,780
Occupational Therapy Assistant hourly wages, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
MeasureHourly
Median (50th percentile)$31.84
Mean (average)$32.91
10th percentile$23.00
25th percentile$26.42
75th percentile$37.23
90th percentile$40.59

Employment: 60. 0.181 per 1,000 jobs in the area. Location quotient 0.55.

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

Related pages

Questions

How much does a COTA make per hour in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?

The median hourly wage was $31.84 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $23.00 and the 90th was $40.59.

What is the average COTA salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $68,460 a year and a median of $66,230 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do occupational therapy assistants in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC earn more than the North Carolina median?

The Durham-Chapel Hill, NC median of $66,230 is 5% lower than the North Carolina median of $69,390 (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.

Try it on your own data today.

Free to start. Most teams are using it the same day.