Occupational Therapy Aides Salary
Occupational Therapy Aides in North Carolina make a median of $66,190 a year, or about $31.82 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $71,433 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 29% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of North Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $66K get you in North Carolina?
About occupational therapy aides
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What this looks like in North Carolina
North Carolina sits well above the national pay line for occupational therapy aides, local pay runs about 69% higher than the U.S. median of $39K. Rent runs $1,284/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, North Carolina
Entry-level occupational therapy aides (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $48K 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 North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy aide afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 29.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy aides in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy aides typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,774/month. At HUD’s $1,284/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 North Carolina?
Local pay is 69% above the national median — $66K here vs. $39K nationally.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for occupational therapy aides?
North Carolina pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +69%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapy aides make in North Carolina?
The median is $66,190 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,570, and experienced occupational therapy aides can clear $77,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,331/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 29.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a occupational therapy aides salary go in North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $71,433 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.