Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Mississippi make a median of $61,650 a year, or about $29.64 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.9), which stretches that salary to about $69,348 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,077/month, or 26.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Mississippi. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $62K get you in Mississippi?
About occupational therapy assistants
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Mississippi
Pay for occupational therapy assistants in Mississippi runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,077/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.9 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Mississippi
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $62K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary by metro in Mississippi
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $64K | +3% | 120 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi | $61K | -1% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapy assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Mississippi numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare Support
Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Mississippi?
Yes — at the median salary of $62K, rent takes 26.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,077/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in Mississippi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,115/month. At HUD’s $1,077/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 Mississippi?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $62K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Mississippi compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
Mississippi pays $62K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.9), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Mississippi?
The median is $61,650 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,920, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $78,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $62K enough to live in Mississippi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,056/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,077/month, which eats 26.6% 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 Mississippi?
Mississippi has a Regional Price Parity of 88.9 (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 $69,348 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.