Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Minnesota make a median of $64,920 a year, or about $31.21 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $70,108 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,384/month, about 32.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $65K get you in Minnesota?
About occupational therapy assistants
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Occupational therapy assistants pay in Minnesota tracks closely to the national median, $65K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 10% difference. Rent runs $1,384/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary by metro in Minnesota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $66K | +2% | 350 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 32.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,382/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 41% 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 Minnesota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $65K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
Minnesota pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Minnesota?
The median is $64,920 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,360, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $73,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,256/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 32.5% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $70,108 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.