Activity Therapy Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does an Activity Therapy Assistant make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Activity Therapy Assistant in the United States is $66,783 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.

However, an Activity Therapy Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $73,783
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60,031 to $70,447
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $53,884
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View as table View as graph 25% $60,031 10% $53,884 90% $73,783 75% $70,447 $66,783 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Activity Therapy Assistant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $70,447 $5,871 $1,355 $34
Average $66,783 $5,565 $1,284 $32
25th Percentile $60,031 $5,003 $1,154 $29
Check out Activity Therapy Assistant Job Openings in the United States
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

Cottonwood Healthcare - CARSON CITY, NV

Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant

Cottonwood Healthcare - COLUMBUS, MT

Physical Therapy Assistant Licensed

Lower Umpqua Hospital District - REEDSPORT, OR

PRN

Hamilton Memorial Hospital District - MC LEANSBORO, IL

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Key Factors That Influence Activity Therapy Assistant Salaries

An Activity Therapy 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 Activity Therapy Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Activity Therapy 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): $64,553
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $66,121
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $67,546
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $67,699
  • Expert (over 8 years): $67,800
Levels Salary
Entry Level Activity Therapy Assistant$64,553
Intermediate Level Activity Therapy Assistant$66,121
Senior Level Activity Therapy Assistant$67,546
Specialist Level Activity Therapy Assistant$67,699
Expert Level Activity Therapy Assistant$67,800
$64,553 0 yr
$66,121 < 2 yrs
$67,546 2-4 yrs
$67,699 5-8 yrs
$67,800 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Activity Therapy Assistant 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 Activity Therapy Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $73,942.
  • California: $73,661.
  • Massachusetts: $72,679.

Top Paying Cities for Activity Therapy Assistants

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: $84,233
  • San Francisco: $83,405
  • Oakland: $81,555

What Skills Can Increase an Activity Therapy Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Commitment (Mentioned in 5.14% 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.
  • Rehabilitation Services (Mentioned in 2.4% Job Postings): Rehabilitation services is a special healthcare service that help a person regain physical, mental, and/or cognitive (thinking and learning) abilities that have been lost or impaired as a result of disease, injury, or treatment.
  • Geriatrics (Mentioned in 1.5% Job Postings): Geriatrics, or geriatric medicine, is a medical specialty focused on providing care for the unique health needs of older adults. The term geriatrics originates from the Greek geron meaning "old man", and iatros meaning "healer".
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 5.14%
Rehabilitation Services 2.4%
Geriatrics 1.5%
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 an Activity Therapy Assistant's salary.
  • Management Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 34%.
  • Clinical Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 31%.
  • Environmental Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 29%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Management Skills
$89,489
34%
Clinical Leadership
$87,485
31%
Environmental Safety
$86,149
29%
Case Management
$80,807
21%
Infection Control
$72,125
8%
Rehabilitation Services
$71,457
7%
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How Education impacts an Activity Therapy Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Activity Therapy Assistants enter the field with a Associate's Degree 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 Activity Therapy Assistant with a Associate's Degree is between $63,706 and $67,129).

Activity Therapy Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Activity Therapy Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.1%
High School 4.9%
Associates 69.5%
Bachelors 21.5%
Masters 3.1%
Doctorate 0.9%
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Activity Therapy Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Activity Therapy 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Activity Therapy Assistant

Salaries for an Activity Therapy Assistant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $67,149 in 2023 to around $64,485 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Activity Therapy Assistant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Activity Therapy Assistant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$67,149
2024
$65,462
2025
$64,485
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $67,149
2024 $65,462
2025 $64,485
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Activity Therapy Assistant

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Activity Therapy Assistant

Here are companies hiring for Activity Therapy Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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