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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2020

31-2011 Occupational Therapy Assistants

Assist occupational therapists in providing occupational therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, direct activity programs, and document the progress of treatments. Generally requires formal training.


National estimates for Occupational Therapy Assistants
Industry profile for Occupational Therapy Assistants
Geographic profile for Occupational Therapy Assistants

National estimates for Occupational Therapy Assistants:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Occupational Therapy Assistants:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
42,750 2.2 % $ 30.49 $ 63,420 0.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for Occupational Therapy Assistants:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 20.76 $ 25.79 $ 30.26 $ 35.95 $ 40.43
Annual Wage (2) $ 43,180 $ 53,640 $ 62,940 $ 74,770 $ 84,090


Industry profile for Occupational Therapy Assistants:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Occupational Therapy Assistants are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Occupational Therapy Assistants, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Occupational Therapy Assistants:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 19,610 2.17 $ 30.59 $ 63,620
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 7,510 0.49 $ 32.36 $ 67,300
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 4,980 0.09 $ 28.27 $ 58,810
Home Health Care Services 3,240 0.22 $ 33.18 $ 69,020
Elementary and Secondary Schools 1,740 0.02 $ 25.38 $ 52,790

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Occupational Therapy Assistants:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Offices of Other Health Practitioners 19,610 2.17 $ 30.59 $ 63,620
Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals 1,580 0.59 $ 31.21 $ 64,910
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 7,510 0.49 $ 32.36 $ 67,300
Home Health Care Services 3,240 0.22 $ 33.18 $ 69,020
Educational Support Services 220 0.12 $ 27.89 $ 58,010

Top paying industries for Occupational Therapy Assistants:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Home Health Care Services 3,240 0.22 $ 33.18 $ 69,020
Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly 760 0.08 $ 32.91 $ 68,440
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) 7,510 0.49 $ 32.36 $ 67,300
Offices of Physicians 540 0.02 $ 31.61 $ 65,750
Management of Companies and Enterprises 120 (7) $ 31.31 $ 65,120


Geographic profile for Occupational Therapy Assistants:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Occupational Therapy Assistants are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Occupational Therapy Assistants, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in Occupational Therapy Assistants:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Ohio 4,380 0.85 2.77 $ 29.81 $ 62,010
Texas 3,790 0.31 1.02 $ 33.37 $ 69,420
Florida 3,180 0.38 1.23 $ 32.47 $ 67,540
New York 2,620 0.30 0.98 $ 29.91 $ 62,220
Illinois 2,340 0.41 1.35 $ 30.99 $ 64,460




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Occupational Therapy Assistants:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Ohio 4,380 0.85 2.77 $ 29.81 $ 62,010
Rhode Island 270 0.62 2.01 $ 29.91 $ 62,220
Kansas 650 0.49 1.59 $ 29.64 $ 61,640
Connecticut 750 0.49 1.58 $ 33.07 $ 68,780
Wyoming 120 0.47 1.54 $ 27.73 $ 57,680




Top paying states for Occupational Therapy Assistants:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 2,160 0.13 0.43 $ 35.55 $ 73,930
Nevada 350 0.28 0.91 $ 35.54 $ 73,930
New Jersey 650 0.17 0.56 $ 34.46 $ 71,680
Texas 3,790 0.31 1.02 $ 33.37 $ 69,420
Connecticut 750 0.49 1.58 $ 33.07 $ 68,780





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Occupational Therapy Assistants:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 2,110 0.24 0.78 $ 32.58 $ 67,760
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 1,770 0.41 1.32 $ 32.29 $ 67,160
Cleveland-Elyria, OH 1,020 1.04 3.39 $ 30.27 $ 62,960
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 860 0.41 1.32 $ 31.42 $ 65,350
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 730 0.13 0.41 $ 34.21 $ 71,150
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 720 0.28 0.90 $ 32.36 $ 67,310
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 630 0.25 0.82 $ 33.87 $ 70,450
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 630 0.61 1.99 $ 30.62 $ 63,680
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 590 0.22 0.71 $ 29.66 $ 61,690
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 570 0.32 1.05 $ 24.40 $ 50,750




Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Occupational Therapy Assistants:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Homosassa Springs, FL 140 4.64 15.09 $ 30.93 $ 64,330
Canton-Massillon, OH 230 1.46 4.76 $ 28.11 $ 58,460
Johnson City, TN 90 1.21 3.93 $ 31.18 $ 64,860
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH 40 1.16 3.77 $ 24.11 $ 50,140
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA 220 1.14 3.70 $ 29.15 $ 60,630
Johnstown, PA 50 1.12 3.64 $ 26.55 $ 55,230
Laredo, TX 110 1.10 3.57 $ 29.53 $ 61,410
Springfield, OH 50 1.09 3.56 (8) (8)
Cleveland-Elyria, OH 1,020 1.04 3.39 $ 30.27 $ 62,960
Pueblo, CO 60 1.03 3.36 $ 26.36 $ 54,830




Top paying metropolitan areas for Occupational Therapy Assistants:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA 150 0.15 0.50 $ 42.97 $ 89,380
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX 40 0.16 0.51 $ 41.76 $ 86,850
Visalia-Porterville, CA 50 0.35 1.14 $ 40.56 $ 84,370
Santa Rosa, CA 30 0.16 0.52 $ 40.12 $ 83,440
Salinas, CA (8) (8) (8) $ 39.96 $ 83,110
Reno, NV (8) (8) (8) $ 38.09 $ 79,220
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 520 0.17 0.57 $ 37.87 $ 78,780
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA 70 0.24 0.77 $ 37.83 $ 78,690
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 150 0.06 0.20 $ 36.86 $ 76,660
Bakersfield, CA 30 0.11 0.34 $ 36.77 $ 76,490

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Occupational Therapy Assistants:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 240 0.78 2.54 $ 27.86 $ 57,950
Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 200 1.33 4.32 $ 33.31 $ 69,290
Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 160 0.90 2.93 $ 28.85 $ 60,000
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 150 0.41 1.32 $ 31.38 $ 65,270
Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area 130 1.09 3.55 $ 31.08 $ 64,640

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Occupational Therapy Assistants:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area 200 1.33 4.32 $ 33.31 $ 69,290
Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area 130 1.09 3.55 $ 31.08 $ 64,640
Southern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area 160 0.90 2.93 $ 28.85 $ 60,000
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 40 0.84 2.73 $ 32.73 $ 68,070
North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) 240 0.78 2.54 $ 27.86 $ 57,950

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Occupational Therapy Assistants:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Texas Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area 60 0.32 1.06 $ 41.97 $ 87,290
Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 41.16 $ 85,610
South Florida nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 39.46 $ 82,080
Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 38.37 $ 79,820
Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area 40 0.58 1.90 $ 35.45 $ 73,730


About May 2020 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(7) The value is less than .005 percent of industry employment.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2020 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2020 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2021