Occupational Therapy Aides Salary
Occupational Therapy Aides in Columbia, MO make a median of $33,480 a year, or about $16.09 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.44), which stretches that salary to about $37,433 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,160/month, about 50.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $33K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (89.44). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About occupational therapy aides
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What this looks like in Columbia
Pay for occupational therapy aides in Columbia runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $39K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,160/month, which is 49.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.44 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for occupational therapy aidess.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for occupational therapy aides in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $39K | $41K |
| Oklahoma City | $34K | $38K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $43K | $42K |
| Omaha | $40K | $43K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, MO
Entry-level occupational therapy aides (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $33K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Aides pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Occupational Therapy Aides salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $66K | +69% | 250 |
| New York | $46K | +18% | 250 |
| Washington | $46K | +17% | 190 |
| Nebraska | $45K | +15% | 90 |
| Connecticut | $45K | +15% | 110 |
| New Jersey | $44K | +14% | N/A |
| California | $43K | +11% | 330 |
| New Mexico | $43K | +10% | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $40K | +3% | 90 |
| Colorado | $40K | +2% | 40 |
| District of Columbia | $40K | +1% | N/A |
| Michigan | $39K | -0% | 60 |
| Missouri | $39K | -1% | 110 |
| Indiana | $38K | -2% | N/A |
| Georgia | $38K | -3% | 200 |
| Texas | $37K | -5% | 410 |
| Pennsylvania | $37K | -5% | 320 |
| Wisconsin | $37K | -6% | 40 |
| Nevada | $36K | -7% | 100 |
| Ohio | $36K | -7% | 200 |
| Oklahoma | $35K | -11% | 90 |
| Maryland | $33K | -15% | N/A |
| Idaho | $33K | -17% | 120 |
| South Carolina | $32K | -18% | 50 |
| Louisiana | $29K | -27% | 70 |
| Tennessee | $28K | -29% | 40 |
| Mississippi | $24K | -38% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 27 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track occupational therapy aides salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy aide afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $33K, rent takes 49.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,160/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy aides in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy aides typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,009/month. At HUD’s $1,160/month FMR, rent would take 58% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is occupational therapy aide a high-paying job in Columbia?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $33K here vs. $39K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for occupational therapy aides?
Columbia pays $33K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $37K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapy aides make in Columbia, MO?
The median is $33,480 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,480, and experienced occupational therapy aides can clear $47,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $33K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,346/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,160/month, which eats 49.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a occupational therapy aides salary go in Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.44 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median occupational therapy aides salary is worth about $37,433 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do occupational therapy aides get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.