Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Arkansas make a median of $78,940 a year, or about $37.95 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $90,073 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 19.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $79K get you in Arkansas?
About occupational therapy assistants
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Occupational therapy assistants pay in Arkansas tracks closely to the national median, $79K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 20.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% 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, Arkansas
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary by metro in Arkansas
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $81K | +2% | 100 |
| Fort Smith | $81K | +2% | 40 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $79K | -0% | 260 |
| Jonesboro | $79K | -0% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapy assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 20.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,043/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Arkansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $79K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
Arkansas pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Arkansas?
The median is $78,940 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,710, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $98,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,084/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 20.1% 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 Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 $90,073 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.