OT Assistant Salary

Salt Lake City vs Saratoga Springs: Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary (2026)

Compare occupational therapy assistant salaries between Salt Lake City, UT and Saratoga Springs, UT. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Salt Lake City, UT
$73,427
$35.30/hr
Saratoga Springs, UT
$71,968
$34.60/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSalt Lake City, UTSaratoga Springs, UT
Median Salary$73,427$71,968
Hourly Rate$35.30$34.60
Entry Level (P10)$41,114$52,217
25th Percentile$63,609$61,363
75th Percentile$77,159$77,841
Top Earner (P90)$115,260$86,558
Total Employed10010
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Salt Lake City ($73,427) and Saratoga Springs ($71,968) occupational therapy assistant salaries.Salt Lake CitySaratoga SpringsMedian Salary$73,427$71,968Entry Level (P10)$41,114$52,217Top Earner (P90)$115,260$86,558US Median $74,332

Verdict

Salt Lake City, UT offers better overall compensation for occupational therapy assistants, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Saratoga Springs.

The salary gap between Salt Lake City and Saratoga Springs is $1,459 (2.03%). Salt Lake City's median is -1.22% compared to the US national median of $74,332.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Salt Lake City spans $74,146,Saratoga Springs spans $34,341. Salt Lake City has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Salt Lake City
P10 (Entry)$41,114
P25$63,609
Median$73,427
P75$77,159
P90 (Top)$115,260
Saratoga Springs
P10 (Entry)$52,217
P25$61,363
Median$71,968
P75$77,841
P90 (Top)$86,558

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Saratoga Springs ($73,362 effective) pays 0.78% more than Salt Lake City ($72,795 effective).

Salt Lake City
Nominal: $73,427
CoL Index: 100.868
Adjusted: $72,795
Saratoga Springs
Nominal: $71,968
CoL Index: 98.1
Adjusted: $73,362

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Salt Lake City if…

  • Higher median salary ($73,427/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($115,260)
  • Larger job market (100 employed)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Choose Saratoga Springs if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $73,362)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, occupational therapy assistant salaries in Salt Lake City grew 16.3% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 20.5% growth in Saratoga Springs over the same period.

Salt Lake City, UT

+16.3%

$61,410 (2019) → $71,420 (2025)

Saratoga Springs, UT

+20.5%

$58,092 (2024) → $70,001 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays occupational therapy assistants more: Salt Lake City or Saratoga Springs?

Salt Lake City has a higher median occupational therapy assistant salary at $73,427/year, compared to Saratoga Springs at $71,968/year — a difference of $1,459 (2.03%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Salt Lake City and Saratoga Springs?

Salt Lake City occupational therapy assistants earn $35.30/hr while Saratoga Springs hygienists earn $34.60/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Salt Lake City to Saratoga Springs as a occupational therapy assistant?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Salt Lake City and Saratoga Springs. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Salt Lake City = $72,795, Saratoga Springs = $73,362), job availability (100 vs 10 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level occupational therapy assistants earn in Salt Lake City vs Saratoga Springs?

Entry-level (10th percentile) occupational therapy assistants earn $41,114 in Salt Lake City and $52,217 in Saratoga Springs. The Saratoga Springs area offers higher starting salaries.
JL

Written by Jordan Lee, MS, OTR/L

Career Analyst

Jordan Lee has 10 years of experience as an occupational therapist. Their specialty is working with children with developmental disorders. They have worked in various healthcare settings including schools and rehabilitation facilities.

Clinically reviewed by Maria Gonzalez, COTA/LData verified by Samuel Chen, OTR/L

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 2.81% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, MS, OTR/L, a licensed occupational therapy assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov