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Occupational therapy assistant salary in North Carolina

Updated November 2, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$69,390median pay per year in North Carolina, or $33.36 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $55,130lowest 10% earn less
  2. $62,11025th percentile
  3. $69,390median
  4. $76,42075th percentile
  5. $83,360top 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 North Carolina was $69,390 a year in May 2025[1]. That was lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in NC
1,590[4]
Rank by median pay
22 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
−4.0%[6]

How much do occupational therapy assistants make in North Carolina?

Half of the occupational therapy assistants in North Carolina earned more than the median of $69,390 a year[1], and half earned less. That works out to $33.36 an hour[1]. The US median was $72,300[3], so North Carolina sat $2,910 (4.0%) below it[6]. The state median was $21,420 higher than the median for all jobs in North Carolina, which was $47,970[7][8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $55,130, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $83,360[2]. The middle half of the pay range ran from $62,110 to $76,420[2]. About 1,590 people held these jobs in the state[4].

Among metro areas, Raleigh-Cary had the highest median, at $75,620[9]. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia had 450 jobs at a median of $72,780[10]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. OEWS leaves out self-employed people and owners of unincorporated firms. It also leaves out bonuses outside regular production pay and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11].

North Carolina vs US pay

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

NCUS
Median per year$69,390[1]$72,300[3]
Median per hour$33.36[1]$34.76[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$55,130[2]$51,490[12]
Top 10% earn more than$83,360[2]$89,780[12]
Jobs1,590[4]51,290[3]

Pay by metro area in North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina with the most jobs for occupational therapy assistants, and the median pay in each[10]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC[10]$72,780450
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$65,730300
Raleigh-Cary, NC$75,620170
Winston-Salem, NC$70,15090
Greensboro-High Point, NC$74,29080
Wilmington, NC$63,44080
Asheville, NC$72,84070
Fayetteville, NC$64,01070

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for occupational therapy assistants in the states that border North Carolina, highest first[13].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Georgia[13]$75,9201,060
Virginia$74,9601,130
South Carolina$73,740830
Tennessee$62,4201,300

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[14]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[15].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does an occupational therapy assistant make in North Carolina?
The median was $69,390 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $69,270 a year[16].
How much does an occupational therapy assistant make an hour in North Carolina?
The median was $33.36 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $26.50 an hour and the 90th percentile was $40.08[17].
Which city in North Carolina pays occupational therapy assistants the most?
Raleigh-Cary had the highest median annual wage among the state's metro areas with a published median, at $75,620[9].
Is North Carolina a good state for occupational therapy assistants?
North Carolina had the 22nd highest median annual wage out of 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was 4.0% lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become an occupational therapy assistant in North Carolina?
This is a US figure, not a state one. Across the US, the typical education needed for entry is an Associate's degree[15].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Occupational Therapy Assistants in North Carolina was $69,390 per year and $33.36 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 North Carolina: 10th percentile $55,130, 25th percentile $62,110, 75th percentile $76,420, 90th percentile $83,360. 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 1,590 people worked as Occupational Therapy Assistants in North Carolina (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: North Carolina had the 22nd 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 North Carolina ($69,390) was $2,910 (4.0%) lower than the US median ($72,300). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Occupational Therapy Assistants in North Carolina was $21,420 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 11 metro areas in or partly in North Carolina with a published median for Occupational Therapy Assistants, Raleigh-Cary, NC had the highest median annual wage, $75,620. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Occupational Therapy Assistants in states that border North Carolina (highest first): Georgia $75,920; Virginia $74,960; South Carolina $73,740; Tennessee $62,420. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. 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
  15. 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
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Occupational Therapy Assistants in North Carolina was $69,270 per year and $33.30 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Occupational Therapy Assistants in North Carolina: 10th percentile $26.50, 25th percentile $29.86, 75th percentile $36.74, 90th percentile $40.08. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only North Carolina. 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.