Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN make a median of $71,930 a year, or about $34.58 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.43), which stretches that salary to about $76,988 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,242/month, or 25.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $72K get you in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lafayette-West Lafayette’s Regional Price Parity (93.43). 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette
Occupational therapy assistants pay in Lafayette-West Lafayette tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,242/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.43 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for occupational therapy assistants in metros near Lafayette-West Lafayette, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $67K | $70K |
| Evansville | $66K | $72K |
| Fort Wayne | $73K | $79K |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $62K | $66K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $38K 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
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 Lafayette-West Lafayette numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare Support
Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 26.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,242/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,444/month. At HUD’s $1,242/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Lafayette-West Lafayette compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
Lafayette-West Lafayette pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.43), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The median is $71,930 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,740, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $78,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Lafayette-West Lafayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,733/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,242/month, which eats 26.2% 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 Lafayette-West Lafayette?
Lafayette-West Lafayette has a Regional Price Parity of 93.43 (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 $76,988 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.