Salary · TN · SOC 31-2011

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

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for occupational therapy assistants in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee was $62,420 a year, or $30.01 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $23,910 to $78,950. About 1,300 were employed.

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Occupational Therapy Assistant pay in Tennessee vs the US

Occupational Therapy Assistant wages in Tennessee and the US, May 2025
Measure	TN annual	TN hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$62,420	$30.01	$72,300
Mean (average)	$60,550	$29.11	$70,710
10th percentile	$23,910	$11.50	$51,490
25th percentile	$58,470	$28.11	$61,710
75th percentile	$74,000	$35.58	$79,160
90th percentile	$78,950	$37.96	$89,780

Employment in Tennessee: 1,300. Location quotient: 1.2 (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 Tennessee

Occupational Therapy Assistant median wage by metro area, Tennessee
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$65,380	$31.43	270
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$61,360	$29.50	210
Knoxville, TN	$59,930	$28.81	210
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$64,010	$30.77	150
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	$64,040	$30.79	60
Clarksville, TN-KY	$60,520	$29.10	50
Johnson City, TN	$64,810	$31.16	40

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

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Occupational Therapy Assistant salary in Tennessee

Median pay: $62,420 a year ($30.01 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $23,910 to $78,950 a year

Employed: 1,300

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 Tennessee</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$62,420</strong> a year ($30.01 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $23,910 to $78,950 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 1,300</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/tn" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a COTA make per hour in Tennessee?

The median hourly wage was $30.01 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $11.50 and the 90th was $37.96.

What is the average COTA salary in Tennessee?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $60,550 a year and a median of $62,420 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

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

The Tennessee median of $62,420 is 14% lower than the US median of $72,300 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Tennessee rank for occupational therapy assistant pay?

Tennessee ranks 43 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.