Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in New Mexico make a median of $77,020 a year, or about $37.03 an hour. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.06), which stretches that salary to about $82,764 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,119/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Mexico. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $77K get you in New Mexico?
About occupational therapy assistants
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What this looks like in New Mexico
Occupational therapy assistants pay in New Mexico tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,119/month, 22.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.06 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, New Mexico
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary by metro in New Mexico
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces | $76K | -2% | 50 |
| Albuquerque | $74K | -3% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapy assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Mexico numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Mexico?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 22.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,119/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in New Mexico?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,209/month. At HUD’s $1,119/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 New Mexico?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does New Mexico compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
New Mexico pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in New Mexico?
The median is $77,020 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,820, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $94,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in New Mexico?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,983/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,119/month, which eats 22.5% 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 New Mexico?
New Mexico has a Regional Price Parity of 93.06 (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 $82,764 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.