Occupational Therapy Aides Salary
Occupational Therapy Aides in Nebraska make a median of $44,980 a year, or about $21.63 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $53K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $49,950 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,113/month, about 36.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nebraska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Nebraska?
About occupational therapy aides
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What this looks like in Nebraska
Nebraska sits well above the national pay line for occupational therapy aides, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $39K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,113/month, which is 36.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Nebraska
Entry-level occupational therapy aides (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $53K or more, a $18K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Aides salary by metro in Nebraska
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $40K | -11% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapy aides salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy aide afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 36.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy aides typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,084/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Nebraska?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $45K here vs. $39K nationally.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for occupational therapy aides?
Nebraska pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapy aides make in Nebraska?
The median is $44,980 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,730, and experienced occupational therapy aides can clear $52,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,057/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/month, which eats 36.4% 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 Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 $49,950 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.