Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Nebraska make a median of $63,180 a year, or about $30.38 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.05), which stretches that salary to about $70,161 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,113/month, or 26.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Nebraska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in Nebraska?
About occupational therapy assistants
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Nebraska
Pay for occupational therapy assistants in Nebraska runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,113/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 90.05 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Nebraska
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary by metro in Nebraska
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $66K | +4% | 80 |
| Lincoln | $63K | +0% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapy assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Nebraska numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare Support
Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Nebraska?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 26.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,113/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in Nebraska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,849/month. At HUD’s $1,113/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Nebraska?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $63K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Nebraska compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
Nebraska pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.05), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Nebraska?
The median is $63,180 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,490, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $77,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Nebraska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,187/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,113/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 Nebraska?
Nebraska has a Regional Price Parity of 90.05 (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 $70,161 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.