Salary · PA · SOC 31-2011

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

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for occupational therapy assistants in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania was $71,590 a year, or $34.42 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $55,690 to $77,790. About 2,560 were employed.

Run it in Rivvi

Benchmark occupational therapy assistant pay in Pennsylvania

Benchmark in Rivvi

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

Occupational Therapy Assistant pay in Pennsylvania vs the US

Occupational Therapy Assistant wages in Pennsylvania and the US, May 2025
Measure	PA annual	PA hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$71,590	$34.42	$72,300
Mean (average)	$67,750	$32.57	$70,710
10th percentile	$55,690	$26.78	$51,490
25th percentile	$61,240	$29.44	$61,710
75th percentile	$74,960	$36.04	$79,160
90th percentile	$77,790	$37.40	$89,780

Employment in Pennsylvania: 2,560. Location quotient: 1.28 (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 Pennsylvania

Occupational Therapy Assistant median wage by metro area, Pennsylvania
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$76,440	$36.75	940
Pittsburgh, PA	$61,900	$29.76	370
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$64,310	$30.92	140
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$61,230	$29.44	130
Lancaster, PA	$72,170	$34.70	70
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$63,740	$30.64	70
York-Hanover, PA	$64,180	$30.86	50
Altoona, PA	$60,310	$29.00	40
Erie, PA	$58,470	$28.11	40
Johnstown, PA	$56,120	$26.98	40
Reading, PA	$72,110	$34.67	40
Williamsport, PA	$64,650	$31.08	40

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

Put this salary on your site

Free for career sites and schools. The box shows the BLS figures and period and links back here.

Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in Pennsylvania

Median pay: $71,590 a year ($34.42 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $55,690 to $77,790 a year

Employed: 2,560

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

HTML to paste on your site

<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 Pennsylvania</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$71,590</strong> a year ($34.42 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $55,690 to $77,790 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 2,560</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/pa" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a COTA make per hour in Pennsylvania?

The median hourly wage was $34.42 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $26.78 and the 90th was $37.40.

What is the average COTA salary in Pennsylvania?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $67,750 a year and a median of $71,590 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

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

The Pennsylvania median of $71,590 is 1% lower than the US median of $72,300 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Pennsylvania rank for occupational therapy assistant pay?

Pennsylvania ranks 21 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.