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Hourly Wage for Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant in the United States is $29, which translates to an annual salary of about $61,109.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $35 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $27 to $32 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $24 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Salaries

A Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $60,105
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $61,282
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $63,699
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $63,958
  • Expert (over 8 years): $64,131
Levels Salary
Entry Level Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant$60,105
Intermediate Level Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant$61,282
Senior Level Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant$63,699
Specialist Level Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant$63,958
Expert Level Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant$64,131
View as Graph

How Do Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $67,660.
  • California: $67,403.
  • Massachusetts: $66,505.

Top Paying Cities for Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $77,077
  • San Francisco: $76,233
  • Oakland: $74,626

What Skills Can Increase a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 3.73% Job Postings): An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.
  • Billing (Mentioned in 2.47% Job Postings): Billing refers to the aspect of banking, whereby someone is charged accurately for what item they purchased.
  • Clinical Leadership (Mentioned in 1.22% Job Postings): Overseeing and coordinating clinical operations while balancing patients' and business needs to achieve quality and safety of care outcomes.
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 3.73%
Billing 2.47%
Clinical Leadership 1.22%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant's salary.

  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Rehabilitation Services: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
  • Organizational Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration $63,553
4%
Rehabilitation Services $62,331
2%
Organizational Skills $62,331
2%
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Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $64,820. While startup companies pay approximate $55,236.

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $55,236
Growth Stage 51~500 $58,309
Established 501~5000 $62,700
Enterprise 5000+ $64,820

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Healthcare, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant positions in Edu., Government & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$67,220$32.010%

How Education impacts an Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant with a Bachelor's Degree is between $61,160 and $64,677.

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.4%
High School 4.2%
Associates 84.8%
Bachelors 8.8%
Masters 1.8%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$55,506
Average $61,109/year
$66,894
$4,626
Average $5,092/month
$5,575
$1,067
Average $1,175/week
$1,286
$27
Average $29/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $66,894 $5,575 $1,286 $32
Average $61,109 $5,092 $1,175 $29
25th Percentile $55,506 $4,626 $1,067 $27

Most common benefits for Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

Here are companies hiring for Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

1. What are the responsibilities of Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant?

Assists an Occupational Therapist with rehabilitative activities to help patients develop, regain, or maintain their ability to perform daily activities. Prepares rehab equipment used during treatment and educates the patient on the use of adaptive equipment. Records and documents session notes to maintain accurate patient records and summarize progress. Provides routine rehabilitative services and common assessments to patients to support established treatment plans. Requires an associate degree. Requires Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA). Typically reports to an occupational therapist. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

2. What are the skills of Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Commitment: An agreement or pledge to do something in the future a commitment to improve conditions at the prison especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date.

2.)

Billing: Billing refers to the aspect of banking, whereby someone is charged accurately for what item they purchased.

3.)

Clinical Leadership: Overseeing and coordinating clinical operations while balancing patients' and business needs to achieve quality and safety of care outcomes.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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