Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Louisiana make a median of $66,090 a year, or about $31.77 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $75,722 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 27.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $66K get you in Louisiana?
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Occupational therapy assistants pay in Louisiana tracks closely to the national median, $66K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,191/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisiana
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $52K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary by metro in Louisiana
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles | $78K | +18% | 50 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $76K | +15% | 40 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $70K | +5% | 90 |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $66K | -0% | 130 |
| Lafayette | $65K | -2% | 60 |
| Monroe | $64K | -3% | 40 |
| Baton Rouge | $63K | -5% | 130 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 27.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,892/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 63% 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 Louisiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $66K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
Louisiana pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Louisiana?
The median is $66,090 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,530, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $83,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,388/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 27.1% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $75,722 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.