Occupational Therapy Aides Salary
Occupational Therapy Aides in Michigan make a median of $39,050 a year, or about $18.78 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $50K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $41,591 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 47.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in Michigan?
About occupational therapy aides
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What this looks like in Michigan
Occupational therapy aides pay in Michigan tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 0% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,272/month, which is 48.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level occupational therapy aides (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $50K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Aides salary by metro in Michigan
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $38K | -2% | 30 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy aide afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 48.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/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 Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy aides typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,779/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 72% 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 Michigan?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for occupational therapy aides?
Michigan pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapy aides make in Michigan?
The median is $39,050 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,650, and experienced occupational therapy aides can clear $50,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,646/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 48.1% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $41,591 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.