Occupational Therapy Aides Salary
Occupational Therapy Aides in Massachusetts make a median of $40,160 a year, or about $19.31 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $54K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.09), that's roughly $40,124 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,347/month, about 85.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Massachusetts. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in Massachusetts?
About occupational therapy aides
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What this looks like in Massachusetts
Occupational therapy aides pay in Massachusetts tracks closely to the national median, $40K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,347/month, which is 87.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.09) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Massachusetts
Entry-level occupational therapy aides (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $54K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Aides salary by metro in Massachusetts
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | $35K | -12% | 60 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Massachusetts numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy aide afford a 2BR apartment alone in Massachusetts?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 87.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,347/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 Massachusetts?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy aides typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,120/month. At HUD’s $2,347/month FMR, rent would take 111% 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 Massachusetts?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $40K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Massachusetts compare to the national average for occupational therapy aides?
Massachusetts pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapy aides make in Massachusetts?
The median is $40,160 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,340, and experienced occupational therapy aides can clear $53,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Massachusetts?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,692/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,347/month, which eats 87.2% 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 Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has a Regional Price Parity of 100.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median occupational therapy aides salary is worth about $40,124 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.