Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Bakersfield-Delano, CA make a median of $95,190 a year, or about $45.77 an hour. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.89), that's roughly $94,350 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,483/month, or 24.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $95K get you in Bakersfield-Delano?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bakersfield-Delano’s Regional Price Parity (100.89). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About occupational therapy assistants
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What this looks like in Bakersfield-Delano
Bakersfield-Delano sits well above the national pay line for occupational therapy assistants, local pay runs about 32% higher than the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,483/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 100.89) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for occupational therapy assistants in metros near Bakersfield-Delano, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $78K | $69K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $80K | $75K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $83K | $74K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $98K | $85K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bakersfield-Delano, CA
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $95K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $82K | +13% | 710 |
| California | $82K | +13% | 3,840 |
| Texas | $82K | +13% | 5,610 |
| Nevada | $80K | +10% | 220 |
| Arkansas | $79K | +9% | 730 |
| Delaware | $79K | +9% | 220 |
| Washington | $78K | +7% | 720 |
| New Mexico | $77K | +7% | 300 |
| Oregon | $77K | +6% | 250 |
| Georgia | $76K | +5% | 1,060 |
| Colorado | $75K | +4% | 710 |
| Massachusetts | $75K | +4% | 1,410 |
| New Jersey | $75K | +4% | 1,080 |
| Virginia | $75K | +4% | 1,130 |
| South Carolina | $74K | +2% | 830 |
| Arizona | $73K | +2% | 1,120 |
| Montana | $73K | +1% | 60 |
| Connecticut | $73K | +1% | 820 |
| Hawaii | $73K | +1% | 60 |
| Florida | $72K | -1% | 3,910 |
| Pennsylvania | $72K | -1% | 2,560 |
| North Carolina | $69K | -4% | 1,590 |
| New York | $69K | -5% | 2,230 |
| New Hampshire | $68K | -6% | 150 |
| Rhode Island | $67K | -8% | 300 |
| Indiana | $67K | -8% | 1,490 |
| Oklahoma | $67K | -8% | 1,000 |
| District of Columbia | $66K | -8% | 60 |
| Louisiana | $66K | -9% | 760 |
| Utah | $66K | -9% | 280 |
| Missouri | $66K | -9% | 1,470 |
| Idaho | $65K | -10% | 210 |
| Kentucky | $65K | -10% | 500 |
| Kansas | $65K | -10% | 660 |
| Minnesota | $65K | -10% | 540 |
| Maine | $64K | -11% | 250 |
| Iowa | $64K | -11% | 400 |
| Illinois | $64K | -11% | 2,470 |
| Michigan | $63K | -13% | 1,250 |
| Nebraska | $63K | -13% | 210 |
| Wyoming | $63K | -13% | 80 |
| Ohio | $63K | -13% | 3,890 |
| Tennessee | $62K | -14% | 1,300 |
| Alabama | $62K | -14% | 750 |
| Mississippi | $62K | -15% | 420 |
| North Dakota | $61K | -16% | 130 |
| West Virginia | $60K | -17% | 340 |
| Wisconsin | $60K | -17% | 1,050 |
| South Dakota | $56K | -22% | 100 |
| Alaska | $54K | -26% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track occupational therapy assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Bakersfield-Delano numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Bakersfield-Delano?
Yes — at the median salary of $95K, rent takes 25.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,483/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in Bakersfield-Delano?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,073/month. At HUD’s $1,483/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Bakersfield-Delano?
Local pay is 32% above the national median — $95K here vs. $72K nationally.
How does Bakersfield-Delano compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
Bakersfield-Delano pays $95K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Bakersfield-Delano, CA?
The median is $95,190 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,890, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $107,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $95K enough to live in Bakersfield-Delano?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,864/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,483/month, which eats 25.3% 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 Bakersfield-Delano?
Bakersfield-Delano has a Regional Price Parity of 100.89 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median occupational therapy assistants salary is worth about $94,350 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.