Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC make a median of $70,910 a year, or about $34.09 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $72,676 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,711/month — about 36% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $71K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $79K | +16% | 3,290 |
| Texas | $78K | +14% | 5,660 |
| Arkansas | $77K | +13% | 620 |
| Maryland | $77K | +13% | 640 |
| Nevada | $76K | +12% | 190 |
| Washington | $76K | +11% | 660 |
| Arizona | $75K | +10% | 930 |
| Virginia | $74K | +8% | 1,260 |
| Oregon | $74K | +8% | 250 |
| South Carolina | $73K | +7% | 780 |
| New Jersey | $73K | +7% | 740 |
| Massachusetts | $73K | +6% | 1,540 |
| Delaware | $73K | +6% | 140 |
| Florida | $72K | +5% | 3,580 |
| Connecticut | $71K | +4% | 860 |
| North Carolina | $71K | +4% | 1,620 |
| New Mexico | $70K | +2% | 170 |
| Idaho | $70K | +2% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $69K | +1% | 830 |
| Montana | $67K | -1% | 50 |
| Vermont | $67K | -2% | 30 |
| District of Columbia | $67K | -2% | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $67K | -3% | 150 |
| Georgia | $66K | -3% | 1,220 |
| Kentucky | $66K | -3% | 550 |
| Louisiana | $66K | -4% | 690 |
| Kansas | $65K | -5% | 670 |
| New York | $65K | -5% | 2,760 |
| Illinois | $64K | -7% | 2,230 |
| Rhode Island | $64K | -7% | 320 |
| Hawaii | $63K | -7% | 60 |
| Ohio | $63K | -8% | 3,150 |
| Missouri | $63K | -8% | 1,030 |
| Mississippi | $62K | -9% | 490 |
| Tennessee | $62K | -9% | 1,430 |
| Alabama | $62K | -9% | 520 |
| Iowa | $62K | -9% | 370 |
| Michigan | $61K | -10% | 1,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $61K | -10% | 2,010 |
| Indiana | $61K | -10% | 1,280 |
| West Virginia | $61K | -10% | 260 |
| Utah | $61K | -10% | 230 |
| Nebraska | $61K | -11% | 170 |
| Minnesota | $61K | -11% | 690 |
| North Dakota | $59K | -13% | 130 |
| Maine | $59K | -13% | 150 |
| Wisconsin | $58K | -15% | 1,140 |
| Wyoming | $58K | -16% | 80 |
| Alaska | $52K | -24% | 50 |
| South Dakota | $52K | -24% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
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 Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $70,910 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,720, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $84,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,590/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 37.3% 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 assistants salary go in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (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 $72,676 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.