How much does a COTA make?
A certified occupational therapy assistant makes $72,300 a year at the national median, with the middle half of OTAs paid $61,710 to $79,160.[onet_ota][oews] BLS counted 51,290 OTA jobs in May 2025, about one for every 3.2 occupational therapist jobs.[oews_api] After 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, a single filer at the median keeps about $59,693 a year.[irs][ssa]
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Take-home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $51,490 | $24.75 | $43,552 |
| 25th | $61,710 | $29.67 | $51,764 |
| Median (50th) | $72,300 | $34.76 | $59,693 |
| 75th | $79,160 | $38.06 | $64,519 |
| 90th | $89,780 | $43.16 | $71,990 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare; before state tax.
BLS uses one occupation code for occupational therapy assistants, so the figures cover COTAs and assistants not yet certified alike; it publishes no separate wage for the certified title.[onet_ota]
Occupational therapy assistant hourly pay
Occupational therapy assistant hourly pay is $34.76 at the median, ranging from $24.75 at the 10th percentile to $43.16 at the 90th.[onet_ota] The yearly column assumes 2,080 paid hours; school-based COTAs on a ten-month calendar, or anyone on a 32-hour week, should compare the hourly rate instead.
| Percentile | Hourly | Monthly (40 h) | Yearly (32 h) | Yearly (40 h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $24.75 | $4,291 | $41,192 | $51,490 |
| 25th | $29.67 | $5,143 | $49,368 | $61,710 |
| Median | $34.76 | $6,025 | $57,840 | $72,300 |
| 75th | $38.06 | $6,597 | $63,328 | $79,160 |
| 90th | $43.16 | $7,482 | $71,824 | $89,780 |
COTA salary by state
Maryland pays occupational therapy assistants the most, at a median of $82,010, followed by California ($81,770) and Texas ($81,500); Alaska pays the least, $53,530.[onet_ota][oews_api] Texas COTAs earn a median $81,500 and California COTAs $81,770; California's metro detail and license fees are on occupational therapist salary California.
| State | Median | Hourly | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Maryland | $82,010 | $39.43 | $62,380 | $95,520 | 710 |
| 2. California | $81,770 | $39.31 | $65,680 | $104,990 | 3,840 |
| 3. Texas | $81,500 | $39.18 | $60,980 | $95,900 | 5,610 |
| 4. Nevada | $79,510 | $38.23 | $61,530 | $97,590 | 220 |
| 5. Arkansas | $78,940 | $37.95 | $50,710 | $98,960 | 730 |
| 6. Delaware | $78,640 | $37.81 | $63,970 | $82,070 | 220 |
| 7. Washington | $77,590 | $37.30 | $62,960 | $88,250 | 720 |
| 8. New Mexico | $77,020 | $37.03 | $36,820 | $94,000 | 300 |
| 9. Oregon | $76,850 | $36.95 | $65,190 | $86,010 | 250 |
| 10. Georgia | $75,920 | $36.50 | $55,840 | $86,830 | 1,060 |
| 11. Colorado | $75,340 | $36.22 | $60,880 | $100,190 | 710 |
| 12. Massachusetts | $75,040 | $36.08 | $42,120 | $82,180 | 1,410 |
| 13. New Jersey | $74,960 | $36.04 | $65,550 | $100,700 | 1,080 |
| 14. Virginia | $74,960 | $36.04 | $57,250 | $89,560 | 1,130 |
| 15. South Carolina | $73,740 | $35.45 | $52,050 | $87,860 | 830 |
| 16. Arizona | $73,490 | $35.33 | $53,810 | $89,880 | 1,120 |
| 17. Montana | $72,800 | $35.00 | $59,060 | $94,510 | 60 |
| 18. Connecticut | $72,780 | $34.99 | $60,180 | $81,400 | 820 |
| 19. Hawaii | $72,710 | $34.96 | $65,660 | $77,280 | 60 |
| 20. Florida | $71,630 | $34.44 | $59,890 | $79,350 | 3,910 |
| 21. Pennsylvania | $71,590 | $34.42 | $55,690 | $77,790 | 2,560 |
| 22. North Carolina | $69,390 | $33.36 | $55,130 | $83,360 | 1,590 |
| 23. New York | $68,530 | $32.95 | $49,050 | $83,200 | 2,230 |
| 24. New Hampshire | $67,790 | $32.59 | $48,410 | $85,610 | 150 |
| 25. Rhode Island | $66,710 | $32.07 | $58,220 | $75,560 | 300 |
| 26. Indiana | $66,660 | $32.05 | $43,340 | $86,870 | 1,490 |
| 27. Oklahoma | $66,520 | $31.98 | $51,710 | $79,320 | 1,000 |
| 28. District of Columbia | $66,390 | $31.92 | $57,450 | $85,660 | 60 |
| 29. Louisiana | $66,090 | $31.77 | $31,530 | $83,200 | 760 |
| 30. Utah | $66,080 | $31.77 | $42,690 | $94,870 | 280 |
| 31. Missouri | $66,070 | $31.76 | $50,990 | $80,930 | 1,470 |
| 32. Idaho | $65,330 | $31.41 | $59,820 | $74,720 | 210 |
| 33. Kentucky | $65,230 | $31.36 | $50,840 | $77,270 | 500 |
| 34. Kansas | $65,010 | $31.25 | $55,120 | $77,410 | 660 |
| 35. Minnesota | $64,920 | $31.21 | $56,360 | $73,040 | 540 |
| 36. Maine | $64,270 | $30.90 | $53,230 | $81,220 | 250 |
| 37. Iowa | $64,140 | $30.84 | $47,670 | $79,800 | 400 |
| 38. Illinois | $64,120 | $30.83 | $47,830 | $80,150 | 2,470 |
| 39. Michigan | $63,260 | $30.41 | $52,270 | $79,310 | 1,250 |
| 40. Nebraska | $63,180 | $30.38 | $47,490 | $77,840 | 210 |
| 41. Wyoming | $62,750 | $30.17 | $37,680 | $74,430 | 80 |
| 42. Ohio | $62,700 | $30.14 | $49,500 | $79,600 | 3,890 |
| 43. Tennessee | $62,420 | $30.01 | $23,910 | $78,950 | 1,300 |
| 44. Alabama | $62,250 | $29.93 | $50,120 | $79,600 | 750 |
| 45. Mississippi | $61,650 | $29.64 | $51,920 | $78,320 | 420 |
| 46. North Dakota | $60,970 | $29.31 | $48,760 | $65,540 | 130 |
| 47. West Virginia | $60,370 | $29.02 | $49,280 | $76,940 | 340 |
| 48. Wisconsin | $59,960 | $28.83 | $44,620 | $72,940 | 1,050 |
| 49. South Dakota | $56,180 | $27.01 | $40,110 | $72,800 | 100 |
| 50. Alaska | $53,530 | $25.74 | $34,110 | $95,900 | 60 |
Jobs: BLS OEWS employment estimate, May 2025. No May 2025 wage estimate published for Vermont.
Where the OTA jobs are
The states with the most occupational therapy assistant jobs are Texas, Florida and Ohio.[oews_api] Best-paying metro: San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, at $97,860.[onet_ota]
| State | OTA jobs | Median | Rank by pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 5,610 | $81,500 | 3rd of 50 |
| Florida | 3,910 | $71,630 | 20th of 50 |
| Ohio | 3,890 | $62,700 | 42nd of 50 |
| California | 3,840 | $81,770 | 2nd of 50 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,560 | $71,590 | 21st of 50 |
| Illinois | 2,470 | $64,120 | 38th of 50 |
| New York | 2,230 | $68,530 | 23rd of 50 |
| North Carolina | 1,590 | $69,390 | 22nd of 50 |
| Metro area | Median | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 1. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| 2. Modesto, CA | $96,210 | $46.25 |
| 3. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $95,370 | $45.85 |
| 4. Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $95,190 | $45.76 |
| 5. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $95,180 | $45.76 |
| 6. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $88,250 | $42.43 |
| 7. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $86,440 | $41.56 |
| 8. Spartanburg, SC | $86,040 | $41.37 |
| 9. Boulder, CO | $84,860 | $40.80 |
| 10. Stockton-Lodi, CA | $84,400 | $40.58 |
What an occupational therapy assistant does
An occupational therapy assistant delivers the treatment an occupational therapist plans. BLS lists guiding clients through therapeutic activities and exercises for motor skills, teaching new ways to do everyday tasks, showing clients how to use adaptive equipment, leading play activities for children with disabilities, and recording progress for the OT.[ooh_ota] BLS's employment projections start from about 52,200 OTA jobs in 2025 and expect 21% growth by 2035. Skilled nursing facilities employ a far larger share of OTAs than of OTs:
| Employer | Share of OTA jobs |
|---|---|
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | 39% |
| Skilled nursing facilities | 19% |
| Hospitals (state, local and private) | 17% |
| Educational services (schools) | 7% |
| Home healthcare services | 7% |
How to become a COTA, and what it costs
OTAs enter through an ACOTE-accredited associate program, which ACOTE defines as usually at least two years of full-time study, or a bachelor's-level OTA program.[acote] Graduates take the NBCOT exam ($540 online) to earn the COTA credential, and BLS notes that OTAs usually need a state-issued license.[nbcot_fees][ooh_ota] At Cape Fear Community College in North Carolina, the OTA program costs $8,240 in state and $21,680 out of state, including books and uniforms.[s_cfcc_ota] Program options and a payback calculator are on occupational therapy school, and the exam and license steps on how to become an occupational therapist.
COTA vs OT and PTA pay
An occupational therapist earns $28,030 more than an OTA at the medians, and a physical therapist assistant $3,920 less ($100,330 OT, $72,300 OTA, $68,380 PTA).[onet_ot][onet_ota][onet_pta] Full OT pay is on occupational therapist salary, PTA pay on PTA salary, and every therapy career on therapist salary.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a COTA make an hour?
$34.76 at the national median (BLS, May 2025), from $24.75 at the 10th percentile to $43.16 at the 90th.
What is the difference between an OTA and a COTA?
COTA (certified occupational therapy assistant) is the credential an OTA earns by passing the NBCOT exam. BLS reports one wage for the whole occupation.
What state pays occupational therapy assistants the most?
Maryland, at a median of $82,010, then California and Texas. Alaska pays the least.
Do COTAs make more than PTAs?
Yes, at the national medians: $72,300 for OTAs against $68,380 for PTAs. Check any state with the calculator.
Sources
- Local Wages: 31-2011.00 Occupational Therapy Assistants (state and metro percentiles)
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates
- OEWS May 2025 employment and median wage series (OEUN/OEUS), Public Data API v2
- OEWS Frequently Asked Questions (wage definition; 2,080-hour year)
- IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (Rev. Proc. 2025-32)
- Contribution and Benefit Base ($184,500 for 2026)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
- From the Director, February 2022: entry-level OT doctoral, OT master’s and OTA degree definitions
- Fees (online initial exam application $540; retake $430)
- Occupational Therapy Assistant estimated cost of attendance ($8,240 in-state)
- Local Wages: 29-1122.00 Occupational Therapists (state and metro percentiles)
- Local Wages: 31-2021.00 Physical Therapist Assistants (state and metro percentiles)