Occupational Therapy Aides Salary
Occupational Therapy Aides in Maryland make a median of $33,310 a year, or about $16.02 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $41K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $33,728 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,795/month, about 78.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Maryland. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $33K get you in Maryland?
About occupational therapy aides
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What this looks like in Maryland
Pay for occupational therapy aides in Maryland 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 $1,795/month, which is 78.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for occupational therapy aidess.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level occupational therapy aides (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $33K. Top earners bring in $41K or more, a $10K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapy aides salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy aide afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $33K, rent takes 78.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/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 Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy aides typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,872/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 96% 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 Maryland?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $33K here vs. $39K nationally.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for occupational therapy aides?
Maryland pays $33K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $34K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapy aides make in Maryland?
The median is $33,310 a year, that works out to about $16 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,200, and experienced occupational therapy aides can clear $41,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $33K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,283/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 78.6% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $33,728 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.