Occupational Therapy Assistants Salary
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Wisconsin make a median of $59,960 a year, or about $28.83 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $63,564 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 30.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Wisconsin. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Wisconsin?
About occupational therapy assistants
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Pay for occupational therapy assistants in Wisconsin runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary by metro in Wisconsin
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $62K | +4% | 230 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $61K | +2% | 40 |
| Kenosha | $61K | +1% | 30 |
| Appleton | $58K | -3% | 60 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $58K | -4% | 40 |
| Green Bay | $57K | -4% | 70 |
| Eau Claire | $56K | -6% | 30 |
| Madison | $55K | -8% | 180 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational therapy assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a occupational therapy assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 30% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational therapy assistants typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,677/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Wisconsin?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $60K here vs. $72K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for occupational therapy assistants?
Wisconsin pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Wisconsin?
The median is $59,960 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,620, and experienced occupational therapy assistants can clear $72,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,007/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 30% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $63,564 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.