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Certified occupational therapist assistant salary
Average certified occupational therapist assistant salary
$53,296
Average Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Salary
The average salary for a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) stands at $53,296 annually, or about $26 per hour. Various factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and specific practice settings significantly influence salaries. For instance, COTAs in metropolitan areas often see higher wages compared to those in rural regions.
Where Can You Earn More?
States like California, Texas, and New York typically offer higher salaries for COTAs, with cities like San Francisco and New York City leading the charts. By targeting your job search towards these high-paying locations, you can enhance your earning potential as a COTA.
Additional Opportunities
Employment opportunities for COTAs are on the rise, with demand in various healthcare settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and schools. Pursuing further certifications or specializations can also lead to increased salary prospects. Stay informed about salary trends and job openings to strategically navigate your career path in occupational therapy.
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Where can a Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant earn more?
Average certified occupational therapist assistant salary by state
The highest-paying states for certified occupational therapist assistants are Hawaii, Nevada, and Florida. The lowest average certified occupational therapist assistant salary states are Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Maryland.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for certified occupational therapist assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $62,582 | $30.09 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $67,025 | $32.22 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $60,577 | $29.12 |
| 4 | Kentucky | $53,933 | $25.93 |
| 5 | Oregon | $55,703 | $26.78 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $53,694 | $25.81 |
| 7 | Washington | $59,730 | $28.72 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $54,292 | $26.10 |
| 9 | Maine | $56,466 | $27.15 |
| 10 | California | $61,430 | $29.53 |
| 11 | Florida | $61,915 | $29.77 |
| 12 | Alaska | $56,454 | $27.14 |
| 13 | Vermont | $52,834 | $25.40 |
| 14 | New York | $56,683 | $27.25 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $54,705 | $26.30 |
| 16 | Delaware | $58,850 | $28.29 |
| 17 | Montana | $54,640 | $26.27 |
| 18 | Ohio | $54,363 | $26.14 |
| 19 | Arizona | $51,024 | $24.53 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $52,544 | $25.26 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $49,644 | $23.87 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $51,555 | $24.79 |
| 23 | Texas | $50,283 | $24.17 |
| 24 | Utah | $50,929 | $24.49 |
| 25 | Kansas | $50,405 | $24.23 |
| 26 | Colorado | $54,896 | $26.39 |
| 27 | Missouri | $48,951 | $23.53 |
| 28 | Massachusetts | $54,289 | $26.10 |
| 29 | Illinois | $50,217 | $24.14 |
| 30 | North Dakota | $48,653 | $23.39 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $49,065 | $23.59 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $58,072 | $27.92 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $47,819 | $22.99 |
| 34 | Idaho | $51,447 | $24.73 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $46,613 | $22.41 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $48,180 | $23.16 |
| 37 | Indiana | $45,515 | $21.88 |
| 38 | Virginia | $48,689 | $23.41 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $46,119 | $22.17 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $44,239 | $21.27 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $47,531 | $22.85 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $47,706 | $22.94 |
| 43 | Michigan | $46,952 | $22.57 |
| 44 | Iowa | $45,887 | $22.06 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $40,188 | $19.32 |
| 46 | Maryland | $42,095 | $20.24 |
| 47 | Georgia | $45,218 | $21.74 |
| 48 | Alabama | $41,144 | $19.78 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $41,224 | $19.82 |
| 50 | Pennsylvania | $43,703 | $21.01 |
| 51 | Minnesota | $43,482 | $20.90 |
Highest paying cities for certified occupational therapist assistants
The highest-paying cities for certified occupational therapist assistants are Napa, CA, New York, NY, and Gresham, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napa, CA | $62,831 | $30.21 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $56,788 | $27.30 |
| 3 | Gresham, OR | $55,447 | $26.66 |
| 4 | Colorado Springs, CO | $55,037 | $26.46 |
| 5 | Plymouth, MA | $54,714 | $26.30 |
| 6 | Toledo, OH | $54,412 | $26.16 |
| 7 | Paducah, KY | $53,881 | $25.90 |
| 8 | Manchester, NH | $53,763 | $25.85 |
| 9 | El Paso, TX | $52,147 | $25.07 |
| 10 | Nampa, ID | $51,937 | $24.97 |
| 11 | Las Cruces, NM | $51,856 | $24.93 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $51,105 | $24.57 |
| 13 | Rock Island, IL | $50,241 | $24.15 |
| 14 | Lansing, MI | $46,860 | $22.53 |
| 15 | Des Moines, IA | $45,880 | $22.06 |
| 16 | Michigan City, IN | $45,526 | $21.89 |
| 17 | Casper, WY | $44,175 | $21.24 |
| 18 | Baltimore, MD | $42,142 | $20.26 |
| 19 | Mobile, AL | $40,828 | $19.63 |
Certified occupational therapist assistant salary details
A certified occupational therapist assistant's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $70,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a certified occupational therapist assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| Average | $53,296 | $4,441 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
Highest paying certified occupational therapist assistant jobs
The highest paying types of certified occupational therapist assistants are occupational therapist, staff occupational therapist, and physical therapist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Therapist | $55,943 | $4,662 | $26.90 | 159,770 |
| Physical Therapist | $73,070 | $6,089 | $35.13 | 86,697 |
| Occupational Therapy Aide | $31,070 | $2,589 | $14.94 | 68,832 |
| Occupational Therapist | $75,707 | $6,309 | $36.40 | 78,315 |
Top companies hiring certified occupational therapist assistants now:
Which companies pay certified occupational therapist assistants the most?
Certified occupational therapist assistant salaries at Constellation Health Services and Life Care Centers of America are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average certified occupational therapist assistant salary at companies like Legacy Health and Careerstaff Unlimited - A Genesis Healthcare Company are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Constellation Health Services | $68,643 | $33.00 |
| 2 | Life Care Centers of America | $68,237 | $32.81 |
| 3 | Legacy Health | $63,535 | $30.55 |
| 4 | Careerstaff Unlimited - A Genesis Healthcare Company | $62,303 | $29.95 |
| 5 | Liberty HomeCare and Hospice | $60,837 | $29.25 |
| 6 | Beacon Health Options | $59,254 | $28.49 |
| 7 | GradyHealth | $59,029 | $28.38 |
| 8 | Ambercare | $59,002 | $28.37 |
| 9 | St. Luke's Health System | $58,686 | $28.21 |
| 10 | ProMedica Toledo Hospital | $58,596 | $28.17 |
| 11 | Sparrow Health System | $58,594 | $28.17 |
| 12 | Phoenix Rehabilitation and Health Services | $58,365 | $28.06 |
| 13 | Therapy Resources Management | $58,236 | $28.00 |
| 14 | Dignity Health | $57,468 | $27.63 |
| 15 | Dean Health Plan | $57,273 | $27.54 |
| 16 | Aegis Therapies | $57,198 | $27.50 |
| 17 | Catholic Health East | $56,752 | $27.28 |
| 18 | Legacy Healthcare | $56,746 | $27.28 |
| 19 | Interstate Rehab | $56,475 | $27.15 |
| 20 | The Good Samaritan Society | $56,456 | $27.14 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Certified occupational therapist assistant salary trends
The average certified occupational therapist assistant salary has risen by $9,230 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average certified occupational therapist assistant earned $44,066 annually, but today, they earn $53,296 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for certified occupational therapist assistants over the last decade.
Compare certified occupational therapist assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average certified occupational therapist assistant salary over time
Compare certified occupational therapist assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Certified occupational therapist assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $53,300 | $25.62 | +2.3% |
| 2025 | $52,100 | $25.04 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $51,000 | $24.52 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $50,200 | $24.15 | +0.5% |
| 2022 | $50,000 | $24.02 | +1.9% |
Recently added certified occupational therapist assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox Rehabilitation | Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant-Tinton | Jersey City, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $45,142 |
| La Villa Grande Care Center | Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant ~ Cota | Grand Junction, CO | 06/29/2025 | $56,349 |
| La Villa Grande Care Center | Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant ~ Cota | Cove, UT | 06/29/2025 | $56,349 |
| Cherrelyn Healthcare Center | Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant | Denver, CO | 06/29/2025 | $68,871 |
| Grand Haven Area Public Schools | Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant | Bowne, MI | 06/28/2025 | $51,570 |
| MGA Homecare | Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (Cota) | Aurora, CO | 06/28/2025 | $43,680 |
| Mission Community Hospital | Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant/Cota (Home Health) | Murrieta, CA | 06/27/2025 | $75,132 |
| Alumus | Cota Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant Sante of North Scottsdale PRN | Scottsdale, AZ | 06/27/2025 | $73,045 |
| Believe Therapies | Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant | Montgomery, TX | 06/27/2025 | $50,000 |
| Gateway Post Acute | Cota-Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant PRN | Porterville, CA | 06/27/2025 | $87,654 |
Certified occupational therapist assistant salary FAQs
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