Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA Salary in the United States

How much does an Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for an Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA in the United States is $68,784 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,266
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $62,058 to $75,841
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $55,934
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View as table View as graph 25% $62,058 10% $55,934 90% $82,266 75% $75,841 $68,784 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $75,841 $6,320 $1,458 $36
Average $68,784 $5,732 $1,323 $33
25th Percentile $62,058 $5,171 $1,193 $30
Check out Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA Job Openings in the United States
Therapist Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Ohio Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant COTA Job

Ronan HR Solutions, Inc. - Seaman, OH

Therapist Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Ohio Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant COTA Job

Ronan HR Solutions, Inc. - Urbana, OH

Therapist Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Ohio Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant COTA Job

Ronan HR Solutions, Inc. - Versailles, OH

Therapist Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Ohio Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant COTA Job

Ronan HR Solutions, Inc. - Troy, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA Salaries

An Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA'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 Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA'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): $60,686
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $61,874
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $64,315
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $64,577
  • Expert (over 8 years): $64,751
Levels Salary
Entry Level Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA$60,686
Intermediate Level Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA$61,874
Senior Level Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA$64,315
Specialist Level Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA$64,577
Expert Level Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA$64,751
$60,686 0 yr
$61,874 < 2 yrs
$64,315 2-4 yrs
$64,577 5-8 yrs
$64,751 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTAs

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: $86,757
  • San Francisco: $85,807
  • Oakland: $83,999

What Skills Can Increase an Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA'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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Commitment 3.73%
Billing 2.47%
Clinical Leadership 1.22%
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 Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA'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
 $71,535
4%
Rehabilitation Services
 $70,160
2%
Organizational Skills
 $70,160
2%
Empathy
 $70,160
2%
Communicates Effectively
 $70,160
2%
Communication Skills
 $70,160
2%
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How Education impacts an Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTAs 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 Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA with a Associate's Degree is between $60,882 and $64,373).

Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA
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%
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Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA'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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on May 01, 2026
$62,058
Average $68,784/year
$75,841
$5,171
Average $5,732/month
$6,320
$1,193
Average $1,323/week
$1,458
$30
Average $33/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $75,841 $6,320 $1,458 $36
Average $68,784 $5,732 $1,323 $33
25th Percentile $62,058 $5,171 $1,193 $30

Salaries of jobs related to Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA

Salary Trends for Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA

Salaries for an Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $56,178 in 2023 to around $55,794 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$56,178
2024
$56,435
2025
$55,794
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $56,178
2024 $56,435
2025 $55,794
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA

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

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

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Occupational Therapy Assistant / COTA job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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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