Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in West Virginia make a median of $60,370 a year, or about $29.02 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $77K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $67,809 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 25.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in West Virginia?
About occupational therapy assistants
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for occupational therapy assistants in West Virginia runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $72K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 25% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, West Virginia can be a reasonable trade-off for occupational therapy assistantss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $77K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary by metro in West Virginia
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheeling | $63K | +4% | 40 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $61K | +1% | 80 |
| Charleston | $58K | -5% | 40 |
| Weirton-Steubenville | $58K | -5% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapy assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 25% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for occupational therapy assistants in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,957/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 West Virginia?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $60K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
West Virginia pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in West Virginia?
The median is $60,370 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,280, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $76,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,029/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 25% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $67,809 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.