Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Ohio make a median of $62,700 a year, or about $30.15 an hour. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $68,562 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 28.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $63K get you in Ohio?
About occupational therapy assistants
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What this looks like in Ohio
Pay for occupational therapy assistants in Ohio runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,188/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary by metro in Ohio
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield | $75K | +20% | 30 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $70K | +12% | 270 |
| Cincinnati | $67K | +8% | 480 |
| Canton-Massillon | $64K | +2% | 210 |
| Toledo | $64K | +2% | 250 |
| Columbus | $63K | +1% | 610 |
| Sandusky | $63K | +1% | 50 |
| Cleveland | $63K | +0% | 720 |
| Akron | $62K | -1% | 280 |
| Lima | $61K | -3% | 50 |
| Youngstown-Warren | $59K | -6% | 180 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
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Track occupational therapy assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 27.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,970/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 40% 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 Ohio?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $63K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
Ohio pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $69K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Ohio?
The median is $62,700 a year, that works out to about $30 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,500, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $79,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,283/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 27.7% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $68,562 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.