Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in South Dakota make a median of $56,180 a year, or about $27.01 an hour. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.89), which stretches that salary to about $62,499 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,017/month, or 26.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $56K get you in South Dakota?
About occupational therapy assistants
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What this looks like in South Dakota
Pay for occupational therapy assistants in South Dakota runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,017/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, South Dakota
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary by metro in South Dakota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $56K | +0% | 40 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 25.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,017/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in South Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,407/month. At HUD’s $1,017/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 South Dakota?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $56K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Dakota compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
South Dakota pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in South Dakota?
The median is $56,180 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,110, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $72,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in South Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,932/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,017/month, which eats 25.9% 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 South Dakota?
South Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 89.89 (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 $62,499 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.