The average salary for an occupational therapy assistant in California is around $81,770 per year.
Avg Salary
Occupational therapy assistants earn an average yearly salary of $81,770.
Wages typically start from $65,680 and go up to $104,990.
4% above national average Updated in 2025
Occupational therapy assistant earnings by seniority
Top-level occupational therapy assistant earnings begin at:
$50.48 per hour
$104,990 per year
Senior-level occupational therapy assistant earnings begin at:
$46.50 per hour
$96,720 per year
Mid-level occupational therapy assistant earnings begin at:
$39.31 per hour
$81,770 per year
Junior-level occupational therapy assistant earnings begin at:
$36.71 per hour
$76,350 per year
Starting level occupational therapy assistant earnings begin at:
$31.58 per hour
$65,680 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Occupational therapy assistant salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $82,010 |
| California | $81,770 |
| Texas | $81,500 |
| Nevada | $79,510 |
| Arkansas | $78,940 |
| Delaware | $78,640 |
| Washington | $77,590 |
| New Mexico | $77,020 |
| Oregon | $76,850 |
| Georgia | $75,920 |
| Colorado | $75,340 |
| Massachusetts | $75,040 |
| New Jersey | $74,960 |
| Virginia | $74,960 |
| South Carolina | $73,740 |
| Arizona | $73,490 |
| Montana | $72,800 |
| Connecticut | $72,780 |
| Hawaii | $72,710 |
| Florida | $71,630 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,590 |
| North Carolina | $69,390 |
| New York | $68,530 |
| New Hampshire | $67,790 |
| Rhode Island | $66,710 |
| Indiana | $66,660 |
| Oklahoma | $66,520 |
| District of Columbia | $66,390 |
| Louisiana | $66,090 |
| Utah | $66,080 |
| Missouri | $66,070 |
| Idaho | $65,330 |
| Kentucky | $65,230 |
| Kansas | $65,010 |
| Minnesota | $64,920 |
| Maine | $64,270 |
| Iowa | $64,140 |
| Illinois | $64,120 |
| Michigan | $63,260 |
| Nebraska | $63,180 |
| Wyoming | $62,750 |
| Ohio | $62,700 |
| Tennessee | $62,420 |
| Alabama | $62,250 |
| Mississippi | $61,650 |
| North Dakota | $60,970 |
| Vermont | $60,490 |
| West Virginia | $60,370 |
| Wisconsin | $59,960 |
| South Dakota | $56,180 |
| Alaska | $53,530 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,950 |
How do occupational therapy assistant salaries compare to similar careers?
Occupational therapy assistants earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than recreational therapists but more than health educators.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Recreational therapist salary | $98K |
| Art therapist salary | $98K |
| Healthcare social worker salary | $90K |
| Insurance sales agent salary | $76K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $79K |
| Occupational therapy assistant salary | $82K |
| Athletic trainer salary | $78K |
| Marriage and family therapist salary | $67K |
| Hearing aid specialist salary | $80K |
| Health educator salary | $64K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)