Occupational Therapy Aides Salary
Occupational Therapy Aides in Missouri make a median of $38,890 a year, or about $18.7 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $47K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $43,711 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,097/month, about 41.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $39K get you in Missouri?
About occupational therapy aides
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What this looks like in Missouri
Occupational therapy aides pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $39K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,097/month, which is 40.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Missouri
Entry-level occupational therapy aides (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $47K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Aides salary by metro in Missouri
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $39K | -1% | 60 |
| Columbia | $33K | -14% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapy aides salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy aide afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 40.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/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 Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy aides typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,892/month. At HUD’s $1,097/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 Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $39K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for occupational therapy aides?
Missouri pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapy aides make in Missouri?
The median is $38,890 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,540, and experienced occupational therapy aides can clear $47,210. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,686/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 40.8% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $43,711 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.