Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Arizona make a median of $73,490 a year, or about $35.33 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $90K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $76,227 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 29.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Arizona?
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What this looks like in Arizona
Occupational therapy assistants pay in Arizona tracks closely to the national median, $73K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,437/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. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $90K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary by metro in Arizona
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $76K | +4% | 800 |
| Tucson | $71K | -3% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapy assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 29.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,229/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is occupational therapy assistant a high-paying job in Arizona?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $73K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
Arizona pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Arizona?
The median is $73,490 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,810, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $89,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,854/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/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 assistants salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (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 assistants salary is worth about $76,227 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do occupational therapy assistants 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.