Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Rhode Island make a median of $66,710 a year, or about $32.07 an hour. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.77), that's roughly $65,550 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,544/month, about 35.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Rhode Island. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $67K get you in Rhode Island?
About occupational therapy assistants
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What this looks like in Rhode Island
Occupational therapy assistants pay in Rhode Island tracks closely to the national median, $67K locally vs. $72K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,544/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.77) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Rhode Island
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $17K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary by metro in Rhode Island
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick | $67K | +1% | 440 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Rhode Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Rhode Island?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 34.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,544/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in Rhode Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,493/month. At HUD’s $1,544/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Rhode Island?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $67K locally vs. $72K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Rhode Island compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
Rhode Island pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Rhode Island?
The median is $66,710 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,220, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $75,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Rhode Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,433/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,544/month, which eats 34.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a occupational therapy assistants salary go in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island has a Regional Price Parity of 101.77 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median occupational therapy assistants salary is worth about $65,550 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.