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Best states for a certified occupational therapist assistant
Quoted expert
Dr. Eva Moya Ph.D.
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Certified occupational therapist assistant opportunities vary in different parts of the country. In order to help you determine the best states for certified occupational therapist assistants, we ranked all fifty states from best to worst for certified occupational therapist assistants.In fact, our research shows that Nevada is the best state for certified occupational therapist assistants in America. The best city in America for certified occupational therapist assistants with the highest pay is Napa, CA.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for certified occupational therapist assistants.We found that Nevada is the best state for certified occupational therapist assistant jobs, whereas Minnesota is the worst.
10 best states for certified occupational therapist assistants in 2025
1. Nevada
Total certified occupational therapist assistant jobs: 445 Average annual salary: $62,582 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Location Quotient: 1.04
2. Hawaii
Total certified occupational therapist assistant jobs: 205 Average annual salary: $67,025 Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $80,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
3. Rhode Island
Total certified occupational therapist assistant jobs: 184 Average annual salary: $60,577 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 0.74
4. Kentucky
Total certified occupational therapist assistant jobs: 1,075 Average annual salary: $53,933 Lowest 10 percent earn: $39,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.42
5. Oregon
Total certified occupational therapist assistant jobs: 1,162 Average annual salary: $55,703 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
6. New Hampshire
Total certified occupational therapist assistant jobs: 600 Average annual salary: $53,694 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $71,000 Location Quotient: 1.67
7. Washington
Total certified occupational therapist assistant jobs: 1,153 Average annual salary: $59,730 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $81,000 Location Quotient: 0.77
8. West Virginia
Total certified occupational therapist assistant jobs: 315 Average annual salary: $54,292 Lowest 10 percent earn: $40,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.01
9. Maine
Total certified occupational therapist assistant jobs: 216 Average annual salary: $56,466 Lowest 10 percent earn: $43,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 0.79
10. California
Total certified occupational therapist assistant jobs: 6,411 Average annual salary: $61,430 Lowest 10 percent earn: $42,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $89,000 Location Quotient: 1.07
Certified occupational therapist assistant jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a certified occupational therapist assistant
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a certified occupational therapist assistant
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $62,582 | $43,000 | 2,998,039 | 445 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $67,025 | $55,000 | 1,427,538 | 205 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $60,577 | $45,000 | 1,059,639 | 184 |
| 4 | Kentucky | $53,933 | $39,000 | 4,454,189 | 1,075 |
| 5 | Oregon | $55,703 | $40,000 | 4,142,776 | 1,162 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $53,694 | $40,000 | 1,342,795 | 600 |
| 7 | Washington | $59,730 | $43,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,153 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $54,292 | $40,000 | 1,815,857 | 315 |
| 9 | Maine | $56,466 | $43,000 | 1,335,907 | 216 |
| 10 | California | $61,430 | $42,000 | 39,536,653 | 6,411 |
| 11 | Florida | $61,915 | $44,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,055 |
| 12 | Alaska | $56,454 | $46,000 | 739,795 | 203 |
| 13 | Vermont | $52,834 | $40,000 | 623,657 | 245 |
| 14 | New York | $56,683 | $42,000 | 19,849,399 | 3,472 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $54,705 | $40,000 | 3,588,184 | 924 |
| 16 | Delaware | $58,850 | $43,000 | 961,939 | 173 |
| 17 | Montana | $54,640 | $40,000 | 1,050,493 | 185 |
| 18 | Ohio | $54,363 | $40,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,418 |
| 19 | Arizona | $51,024 | $35,000 | 7,016,270 | 1,409 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $52,544 | $38,000 | 5,024,369 | 678 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $49,644 | $36,000 | 3,004,279 | 525 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $51,555 | $36,000 | 2,088,070 | 315 |
| 23 | Texas | $50,283 | $35,000 | 28,304,596 | 5,424 |
| 24 | Utah | $50,929 | $36,000 | 3,101,833 | 570 |
| 25 | Kansas | $50,405 | $36,000 | 2,913,123 | 563 |
| 26 | Colorado | $54,896 | $39,000 | 5,607,154 | 865 |
| 27 | Missouri | $48,951 | $35,000 | 6,113,532 | 1,783 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $54,289 | $40,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,295 |
| 29 | Illinois | $50,217 | $37,000 | 12,802,023 | 3,223 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $48,653 | $36,000 | 755,393 | 195 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $49,065 | $36,000 | 1,920,076 | 455 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $58,072 | $42,000 | 693,972 | 172 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $47,819 | $34,000 | 2,984,100 | 571 |
| 34 | Idaho | $51,447 | $37,000 | 1,716,943 | 220 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $46,613 | $33,000 | 3,930,864 | 924 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $48,180 | $35,000 | 9,005,644 | 2,217 |
| 37 | Indiana | $45,515 | $33,000 | 6,666,818 | 2,223 |
| 38 | Virginia | $48,689 | $35,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,526 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $46,119 | $33,000 | 6,715,984 | 883 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $44,239 | $32,000 | 579,315 | 146 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $47,531 | $35,000 | 5,795,483 | 744 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $47,706 | $34,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,351 |
| 43 | Michigan | $46,952 | $35,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,041 |
| 44 | Iowa | $45,887 | $33,000 | 3,145,711 | 574 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $40,188 | $28,000 | 4,684,333 | 935 |
| 46 | Maryland | $42,095 | $31,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,406 |
| 47 | Georgia | $45,218 | $32,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,565 |
| 48 | Alabama | $41,144 | $29,000 | 4,874,747 | 925 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $41,224 | $30,000 | 869,666 | 176 |
| 50 | Pennsylvania | $43,703 | $32,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,613 |
| 51 | Minnesota | $43,482 | $32,000 | 5,576,606 | 660 |
Highest paying states for certified occupational therapist assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $62,582 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $67,025 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $60,577 |
| 4 | Kentucky | $53,933 |
| 5 | Oregon | $55,703 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $53,694 |
| 7 | Washington | $59,730 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $54,292 |
| 9 | Maine | $56,466 |
| 10 | California | $61,430 |
| 11 | Florida | $61,915 |
| 12 | Alaska | $56,454 |
| 13 | Vermont | $52,834 |
| 14 | New York | $56,683 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $54,705 |
| 16 | Delaware | $58,850 |
| 17 | Montana | $54,640 |
| 18 | Ohio | $54,363 |
| 19 | Arizona | $51,024 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $52,544 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $49,644 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $51,555 |
| 23 | Texas | $50,283 |
| 24 | Utah | $50,929 |
| 25 | Kansas | $50,405 |
| 26 | Colorado | $54,896 |
| 27 | Missouri | $48,951 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $54,289 |
| 29 | Illinois | $50,217 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $48,653 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $49,065 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $58,072 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $47,819 |
| 34 | Idaho | $51,447 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $46,613 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $48,180 |
| 37 | Indiana | $45,515 |
| 38 | Virginia | $48,689 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $46,119 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $44,239 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $47,531 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $47,706 |
| 43 | Michigan | $46,952 |
| 44 | Iowa | $45,887 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $40,188 |
| 46 | Maryland | $42,095 |
| 47 | Georgia | $45,218 |
| 48 | Alabama | $41,144 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $41,224 |
| 50 | Pennsylvania | $43,703 |
| 51 | Minnesota | $43,482 |
Expert opinions on the best states for certified occupational therapist assistants
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for certified occupational therapist assistants to find work opportunities?
Dr. Eva Moya Ph.D.
Professor, The University of Texas
Absolutely. Social Workers are well-positioned to work in multiple sectors at the local, state, national, and international levels. From health care, gerontology, safety net, mental health and substance abuse, child and family, education, immigration, and criminal justice sectors.
Employment is usually based on the market, economics, needs, and value of social work. The place does matter.
Social workers are in schools, courts, hospitals, community-based organizations, federally qualified health centers, mental health clinics, shelters, transitional living facilities, detention facilities, academic settings, prisons, industry, political arena, palliative care, hospice, research, international organizations, immigrant and migrant centers, elderly care facilities, protective services, the child welfare system, counseling centers, health and human service organizations, environmental and public health venues.
Certified occupational therapist assistant best states FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025