Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Pennsylvania make a median of $71,590 a year, or about $34.42 an hour. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $75,382 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 28.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $72K get you in Pennsylvania?
About occupational therapy assistants
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Occupational therapy assistants pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary by metro in Pennsylvania
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $76K | +7% | 940 |
| Lancaster | $72K | +1% | 70 |
| Reading | $72K | +1% | 40 |
| Williamsport | $65K | -10% | 40 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $64K | -10% | 140 |
| York-Hanover | $64K | -10% | 50 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $64K | -11% | 70 |
| Pittsburgh | $62K | -14% | 370 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $61K | -14% | 130 |
| Altoona | $60K | -16% | 40 |
| Erie | $58K | -18% | 40 |
| Johnstown | $56K | -22% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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Track occupational therapy assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 28.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,341/month. At HUD’s $1,351/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 Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
Pennsylvania pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $71,590 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,690, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $77,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,713/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 28.7% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $75,382 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.