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Occupational therapy assistant salary in California

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$81,770median pay per year in California, or $39.31 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $65,680lowest 10% earn less
  2. $76,35025th percentile
  3. $81,770median
  4. $96,72075th percentile
  5. $104,990top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $72,300[3]

The median pay for occupational therapy assistants in California was $81,770 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $9,470 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
3,840[4]
Rank by median pay
2 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
+13.1%[6]

How much do occupational therapy assistants make in California?

Half of occupational therapy assistants in California earned more than $81,770 a year[1]. Half earned less. That works out to $39.31 an hour[1]. The average was a bit higher, at $84,690 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for this job was $72,300 a year[3]. California's median was 13.1% above that[6]. It also sat $23,530 above the median for all jobs in the state, which was $58,240[8][9]. California had the 2nd highest median for this job among the 49 states and DC with a published median[5].

At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $65,680[2]. At the high end, the top 10% earned more than $104,990[2]. By metro area, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median, at $97,860[10]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 1,720 jobs and a median of $78,090[11].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. Self-employed people are left out, and so are bonuses that are not tied to production and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12].

California vs US pay

Pay for occupational therapy assistants in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$81,770[1]$72,300[3]
Median per hour$39.31[1]$34.76[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$65,680[2]$51,490[13]
Top 10% earn more than$104,990[2]$89,780[13]
Jobs3,840[4]51,290[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for occupational therapy assistants, and the median pay in each[11].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[11]$78,0901,720
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$80,070400
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$82,680360
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$97,860290
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$95,180170
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$95,370160
Fresno, CA$76,03090
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA$82,06080

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for occupational therapy assistants in the states that border California, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Nevada[14]$79,510220
Oregon$76,850250
Arizona$73,4901,120

Median pay for occupational therapy assistants in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for occupational therapy assistants are projected to grow 21.5% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an occupational therapy assistant make in California?
The median was $81,770 a year in May 2025, and the average was $84,690[1][7].
How much does an occupational therapy assistant make an hour in California?
The median hourly wage was $39.31[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $31.58 an hour, and the top 10% earned more than $50.48[17][2].
Which city in California pays occupational therapy assistants the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont had the highest median annual wage among metro areas with a published figure, at $97,860[10].
Is California a good state for occupational therapy assistants?
California had the 2nd highest median annual wage for this job out of the 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was 13.1% above the US median[6].
What do you need to become an occupational therapy assistant in California?
Across the US, the typical entry education is an associate's degree, with no related work experience or on-the-job training needed[16]. This is a US figure, not one for California.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Occupational Therapy Assistants in California was $81,770 per year and $39.31 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Occupational Therapy Assistants in California: 10th percentile $65,680, 25th percentile $76,350, 75th percentile $96,720, 90th percentile $104,990. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Occupational Therapy Assistants in the US as a whole was $72,300 per year and $34.76 per hour, with about 51,290 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 3,840 people worked as Occupational Therapy Assistants in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 2nd highest median annual wage for Occupational Therapy Assistants out of the 49 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Occupational Therapy Assistants in California ($81,770) was $9,470 (13.1%) higher than the US median ($72,300). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Occupational Therapy Assistants in California was $84,690 per year and $40.72 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Occupational Therapy Assistants in California was $23,530 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 13 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Occupational Therapy Assistants, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA had the highest median annual wage, $97,860. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Occupational Therapy Assistants in the US: 10th percentile $51,490, 25th percentile $61,710, 75th percentile $79,160, 90th percentile $89,780. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Occupational Therapy Assistants in states that border California (highest first): Nevada $79,510; Oregon $76,850; Arizona $73,490. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Occupational Therapy Assistants is projected to grow 21.5% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 8,100 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Occupational Therapy Assistants: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Occupational Therapy Assistants in California: 10th percentile $31.58, 25th percentile $36.71, 75th percentile $46.50, 90th percentile $50.48. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.