The average salary for an occupational therapist assistant in California is around $81,770 per year.
Avg Salary
Occupational therapist 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 therapist assistant earnings by seniority
Top-level occupational therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$50.48 per hour
$104,990 per year
Senior-level occupational therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$46.50 per hour
$96,720 per year
Mid-level occupational therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$39.31 per hour
$81,770 per year
Junior-level occupational therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$36.71 per hour
$76,350 per year
Starting level occupational therapist assistant earnings begin at:
$31.58 per hour
$65,680 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Occupational therapist 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 |
| West Virginia | $60,370 |
| Wisconsin | $59,960 |
| Vermont | $58,790 |
| South Dakota | $56,180 |
| Alaska | $53,530 |
| Puerto Rico | $21,950 |
How do occupational therapist assistant salaries compare to similar careers?
Occupational therapist assistants earn 6% less than similar careers in California. On average, they make less than respiratory therapists but more than paramedics.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Respiratory therapist salary | $105K |
| Nurse educator salary | $82K |
| Healthcare social worker salary | $90K |
| Cardiovascular technologist and technician salary | $78K |
| Orthotist and prosthetist salary | $92K |
| Occupational therapist assistant salary | $82K |
| Physical therapist assistant salary | $83K |
| Surgical technologist salary | $81K |
| Licensed practical nurse salary | $80K |
| Paramedic salary | $75K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)