Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in North Dakota make a median of $60,970 a year, or about $29.31 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $66K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $68,590 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 25.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in North Dakota?
About occupational therapy assistants
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Pay for occupational therapy assistants in North Dakota runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $72K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 24.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, North Dakota can be a reasonable trade-off for occupational therapy assistantss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $66K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary by metro in North Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $64K | +4% | 30 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 24.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,926/month. At HUD’s $1,034/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 North Dakota?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $61K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
North Dakota pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in North Dakota?
The median is $60,970 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,760, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $65,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,153/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 24.9% 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 North Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $68,590 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.