Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in California: $86,277 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across California's 157 metropolitan areas, the average median occupational therapy assistant pay sits at $86,277/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-2011. Because California sits at BEA RPP 113.1 (13% above the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $76,284 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Oakland ($100,087), Fremont ($97,880), San Francisco ($97,860).

Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in California - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — California occupational therapy assistant salary overview (2026)

$86,277

Avg Median Salary

$41.48

Avg Hourly Rate

6,710

Metro Employed

157

Cities

In California, the projected average median salary for occupational therapy assistants in 2026 stands at $86,276, which is significantly higher than the national median of $74,332, representing a difference of 16.1%. Salaries across different cities show considerable variation; for instance, Oakland leads with an average salary of $102,899, while Fresno sits at the lower end with $78,166, highlighting a gap of $24,733. This disparity is often driven by factors such as local demand for services, cost of living, and availability of skilled practitioners. To practice in California, occupational therapy assistants must adhere to specific licensing requirements and state regulations that govern their scope of practice. The demand for these professionals is fueled by an aging population and an increasing emphasis on rehabilitation services, contributing to a projected annual growth rate of 2.81%. With a total employment figure of 6,710 occupational therapy assistants across the state, cities such as Fremont ($100,630), San Francisco ($100,610), Sunnyvale ($100,352), and Santa Clara ($99,693) are also expected to offer competitive salaries. The overall job market for occupational therapy assistants in California shows a strong outlook, driven by continued growth in the healthcare sector and increasing recognition of the importance of occupational therapy services.

California Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$65,895

avg across 157 cities

Median

$86,277

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$109,511

avg across 157 cities

Overall salary range in California: $52,253 (lowest entry-level) to $135,109 (highest top earner)

California vs National Average

California

$86,277

National Median

$74,332

California occupational therapy assistants earn 16.07% more than the national median (+$11,945/year difference).

California Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary Distribution (2026)

Occupational Therapy Assistant salaries in California range from $65,895 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $109,511 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $86,277. The California median is $11,945 above the US national median of $74,332. The average hourly rate is $41.48/hr. Approximately 6,710 occupational therapy assistants are employed across 157 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$70,956

2025 BLS Actual

$83,918

2026 Current Est.

$86,277

2019–2027 Growth

+25.0%

Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in California (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.81% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$70,956	Actual
2020	$74,250	Actual
2021	$78,403	Actual
2022	$80,690	Actual
2023	$81,954	Actual
2024	$86,208	Actual
2025	$83,918	Actual
2026(current)	$86,277	Estimated
2027	$88,701	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the California metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 18.3% from $70,956 (2019) to $83,918 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $88,701 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,745 (25.01%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the California metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.81% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in California

Oakland

78 employed · $49.47/hr

$102,899

+19.27% vs avg

Fremont

43 employed · $48.38/hr

$100,630

+16.64% vs avg

San Francisco

290 employed · $48.37/hr

$100,610

+16.61% vs avg

Sunnyvale

26 employed · $48.25/hr

$100,352

+16.31% vs avg

Santa Clara

32 employed · $47.93/hr

$99,693

+15.55% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in California

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Fresno	$78,166	-9.40%	$37.58
Los Angeles	$80,284	-6.95%	$38.61
Long Beach	$80,551	-6.64%	$38.73
Anaheim	$81,713	-5.29%	$39.28
Riverside	$82,320	-4.59%	$39.58

Best Value Cities for Occupational Therapy Assistants in California

When adjusted for local cost of living, these California cities offer the most purchasing power for occupational therapy assistants.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Bakersfield	$97,865	100.886	$97,006
Modesto	$98,914	104.108	$95,011
Sacramento	$97,855	106.67	$91,736
Oakland	$102,899	113.1	$90,981
Fremont	$100,630	113.1	$88,974

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in California

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$65,895	$31.68	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$86,277	$41.48	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$109,511	$52.65	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across California metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 157 Cities in California

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Oakland	$102,899	$49.47	$69,799	$135,109	78
2	Fremont	$100,630	$48.38	$64,800	$134,073	43
3	San Francisco	$100,610	$48.37	$84,613	$126,117	290
4	Sunnyvale	$100,352	$48.25	$70,186	$128,146	26
5	Santa Clara	$99,693	$47.93	$68,674	$122,229	32
6	Modesto	$98,914	$47.55	$78,742	$108,557	30
7	Folsom	$98,516	$47.36	$67,241	$120,040	17
8	San Jose	$98,050	$47.14	$76,563	$124,390	160
9	Bakersfield	$97,865	$47.06	$69,798	$110,439	40
10	Sacramento	$97,855	$47.05	$79,328	$110,757	170
11	Roseville	$97,452	$46.85	$71,484	$124,999	35
12	Santa Ana	$91,938	$44.20	$60,357	$117,827	69
13	Fontana	$90,236	$43.39	$59,317	$115,692	32
14	Irvine	$90,138	$43.33	$63,065	$118,034	72
15	Pomona	$89,698	$43.13	$62,374	$111,203	36
16	Simi Valley	$89,648	$43.10	$62,531	$114,142	23
17	Escondido	$89,627	$43.09	$62,572	$110,736	31
18	Fairfield	$89,465	$43.02	$62,112	$110,200	25
19	Fullerton	$89,136	$42.85	$61,089	$112,660	25
20	Daly City	$89,059	$42.82	$60,913	$109,090	20
21	El Monte	$89,031	$42.80	$61,207	$112,310	20
22	Vista	$88,982	$42.78	$61,095	$111,914	24
23	Concord	$88,960	$42.77	$61,047	$112,075	29
24	Santa Maria	$88,869	$42.73	$75,000	$107,282	40
25	Clovis	$88,828	$42.71	$60,744	$108,095	19
26	Garden Grove	$88,736	$42.67	$60,180	$111,330	37
27	Temecula	$88,716	$42.66	$60,489	$107,960	25
28	Santa Clarita	$88,656	$42.63	$62,385	$116,586	41
29	Lancaster	$88,540	$42.56	$60,091	$116,415	40
30	Inglewood	$88,540	$42.56	$60,091	$116,415	21
31	Corona	$88,428	$42.51	$59,749	$115,749	24
32	Richmond	$88,415	$42.51	$59,452	$110,262	25
33	Rialto	$88,372	$42.49	$59,712	$110,123	17
34	Torrance	$88,260	$42.43	$59,104	$115,471	26
35	Salinas	$88,162	$42.39	$59,237	$115,141	29
36	Elk Grove	$88,092	$42.35	$58,991	$108,968	25
37	Oceanside	$88,070	$42.34	$58,944	$108,841	28
38	Whittier	$88,044	$42.33	$63,012	$107,042	22
39	San Rafael	$88,038	$42.33	$62,906	$106,964	11
40	Rancho Cucamonga	$87,958	$42.29	$58,692	$108,530	46
41	Hayward	$87,910	$42.27	$58,582	$114,066	23
42	Woodland	$87,886	$42.25	$62,551	$109,732	15
43	Buena Park	$87,873	$42.24	$62,608	$106,706	20
44	Encinitas	$87,866	$42.24	$62,592	$106,459	16
45	Downey	$87,860	$42.24	$58,208	$114,130	22
46	Dublin	$87,811	$42.21	$62,463	$106,505	14
47	Redlands	$87,783	$42.20	$62,398	$109,618	16
48	Chino	$87,735	$42.18	$62,196	$106,034	17
49	Westminster	$87,708	$42.16	$61,863	$109,369	21
50	Santa Monica	$87,701	$42.16	$62,116	$105,923	20
51	San Mateo	$87,692	$42.16	$58,096	$113,339	21
52	Tulare	$87,667	$42.15	$62,036	$105,812	17
53	San Buenaventura	$87,636	$42.13	$64,581	$113,382	19
54	Mission Viejo	$87,578	$42.10	$61,916	$105,745	23
55	Moreno Valley	$87,577	$42.10	$60,355	$112,944	53
56	Pleasanton	$87,563	$42.10	$61,883	$108,670	16
57	Pasadena	$87,440	$42.04	$61,978	$112,500	35
58	Santee	$87,378	$42.01	$61,451	$105,100	9
59	Glendale	$87,299	$41.97	$63,807	$112,261	36
60	Mountain View	$87,255	$41.95	$61,163	$104,700	13
61	Pittsburg	$87,248	$41.95	$60,789	$107,860	19
62	Novato	$87,220	$41.94	$60,993	$104,364	11
63	Costa Mesa	$87,187	$41.92	$61,405	$111,890	23
64	Berkeley	$87,095	$41.87	$63,341	$105,945	23
65	Huntington Beach	$87,075	$41.86	$63,555	$114,531	50
66	Jurupa Valley	$86,998	$41.82	$63,379	$111,037	24
67	Hemet	$86,972	$41.81	$60,509	$103,790	14
68	Union City	$86,966	$41.81	$60,493	$103,768	11
69	West Covina	$86,956	$41.80	$63,283	$110,842	25
70	Chino Hills	$86,931	$41.79	$60,324	$106,592	21
71	Chico	$86,816	$41.74	$62,963	$110,436	20
72	Gilroy	$86,808	$41.73	$60,127	$111,941	10
73	Santa Cruz	$86,780	$41.72	$64,473	$111,850	12
74	Stockton	$86,772	$41.72	$75,493	$106,635	60
75	San Marcos	$86,759	$41.71	$59,661	$111,781	17
76	Tustin	$86,684	$41.68	$59,487	$106,026	18
77	San Ramon	$86,677	$41.67	$59,826	$105,781	19
78	Eastvale	$86,595	$41.63	$59,636	$105,515	10
79	Murrieta	$86,591	$41.63	$62,539	$109,697	25
80	Vacaville	$86,591	$41.63	$62,539	$113,145	15
81	Brentwood	$86,554	$41.62	$59,541	$111,102	13
82	Hesperia	$86,513	$41.60	$59,447	$110,965	14
83	Lake Elsinore	$86,505	$41.59	$59,431	$110,721	18
84	Citrus Heights	$86,395	$41.54	$59,178	$105,092	19
85	El Cajon	$86,318	$41.49	$59,103	$109,028	18
86	San Clemente	$86,293	$41.48	$58,854	$110,020	10
87	Bellflower	$86,258	$41.47	$58,863	$110,128	11
88	Palmdale	$86,220	$41.45	$61,611	$111,690	29
89	La Mirada	$86,219	$41.45	$63,444	$101,583	10
90	Apple Valley	$86,203	$41.44	$58,737	$104,251	19
91	Menifee	$86,177	$41.43	$61,603	$108,569	20
92	Yucaipa	$86,141	$41.41	$58,597	$109,746	14
93	Norwalk	$86,135	$41.41	$61,421	$108,206	22
94	Yuba City	$86,100	$41.39	$58,502	$104,141	10
95	Rancho Cordova	$86,058	$41.37	$58,407	$109,253	20
96	Montebello	$85,976	$41.33	$58,219	$109,204	16
97	Compton	$85,942	$41.32	$58,054	$103,413	25
98	Vallejo	$85,891	$41.29	$60,956	$107,633	26
99	Porterville	$85,880	$41.29	$58,001	$103,435	11
100	Lompoc	$85,869	$41.28	$62,687	$100,478	8
101	Hawthorne	$85,735	$41.22	$57,672	$102,972	13
102	Antioch	$85,708	$41.21	$60,461	$110,006	17
103	Burbank	$85,700	$41.21	$57,734	$107,017	22
104	Santa Rosa	$85,595	$41.15	$60,295	$109,862	44
105	Lodi	$85,574	$41.14	$62,702	$105,914	14
106	Redding	$85,564	$41.13	$61,632	$107,859	13
107	Napa	$85,543	$41.12	$64,080	$107,792	17
108	Alhambra	$85,502	$41.10	$63,984	$107,659	13
109	Livermore	$85,502	$41.10	$61,138	$107,659	21
110	Orange	$85,476	$41.09	$60,029	$106,291	21
111	South Gate	$85,474	$41.09	$63,569	$107,568	25
112	Victorville	$85,456	$41.08	$59,982	$106,000	30
113	West Sacramento	$85,426	$41.07	$63,456	$107,412	9
114	Poway	$85,404	$41.06	$61,571	$99,232	8
115	San Leandro	$85,289	$41.00	$63,399	$109,860	23
116	Indio	$85,192	$40.96	$62,913	$106,655	23
117	Lake Forest	$85,192	$40.96	$62,913	$106,655	14
118	Chula Vista	$85,102	$40.92	$54,593	$107,880	51
119	Petaluma	$85,082	$40.91	$63,006	$106,299	12
120	Carson	$85,041	$40.89	$62,909	$109,269	21
121	Rocklin	$85,028	$40.88	$62,879	$109,224	10
122	San Diego	$85,003	$40.87	$72,995	$106,316	360
123	Newport Beach	$84,883	$40.81	$62,542	$105,657	12
124	Redwood City	$84,877	$40.81	$62,441	$105,364	13
125	Turlock	$84,856	$40.80	$62,392	$108,447	17
126	Manteca	$84,829	$40.78	$62,416	$105,480	13
127	Perris	$84,821	$40.77	$62,052	$105,457	12
128	Madera	$84,752	$40.74	$62,240	$105,019	8
129	Baldwin Park	$84,601	$40.67	$61,804	$104,534	19
130	Palo Alto	$84,601	$40.67	$61,892	$107,837	15
131	Lakewood	$84,567	$40.66	$61,812	$104,641	19
132	San Luis Obispo	$84,556	$40.65	$59,464	$104,586	10
133	Hanford	$84,396	$40.58	$61,330	$103,821	10
134	Oxnard	$84,366	$40.56	$66,498	$110,469	80
135	Beaumont	$84,320	$40.54	$60,897	$103,849	9
136	Merced	$84,306	$40.53	$58,751	$103,805	20
137	Tracy	$84,299	$40.53	$61,196	$103,568	14
138	Carlsbad	$84,293	$40.53	$61,017	$107,626	23
139	Alameda	$84,271	$40.52	$61,132	$106,553	12
140	Laguna Niguel	$84,251	$40.51	$60,740	$106,702	16
141	Milpitas	$84,210	$40.49	$60,990	$106,354	16
142	Camarillo	$84,031	$40.40	$60,581	$102,928	13
143	Thousand Oaks	$84,025	$40.39	$61,729	$108,023	32
144	Oakley	$83,997	$40.38	$58,240	$103,020	8
145	Davis	$83,976	$40.37	$60,370	$102,485	14
146	Upland	$83,915	$40.34	$59,971	$105,619	18
147	La Habra	$83,791	$40.28	$59,947	$104,955	16
148	Lynwood	$83,756	$40.27	$59,955	$102,056	16
149	Visalia	$83,482	$40.14	$74,856	$101,237	50
150	Ontario	$83,429	$40.11	$57,042	$104,834	42
151	San Bernardino	$82,422	$39.62	$53,205	$109,772	33
152	Brea	$82,327	$39.58	$61,091	$100,512	10
153	Riverside	$82,320	$39.58	$67,505	$101,083	400
154	Anaheim	$81,713	$39.28	$54,731	$106,166	51
155	Long Beach	$80,551	$38.73	$52,253	$107,632	89
156	Los Angeles	$80,284	$38.61	$66,467	$106,038	1,720
157	Fresno	$78,166	$37.58	$65,891	$103,581	90

More California Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore occupational therapy assistant hourly pay in California cities.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new occupational therapy assistants.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced occupational therapy assistants.

Oakland →Fremont →San Francisco →

Compare Cities in California

Los Angeles, CAvsRiverside, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSan Diego, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSan Francisco, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSacramento, CA Los Angeles, CAvsSan Jose, CA Los Angeles, CAvsFresno, CA

View all comparisons →

Explore More Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do occupational therapy assistants make in California in 2026?

The average median occupational therapy assistant salary in California is $86,277/year across 157 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $78,166 in Fresno to $102,899 in Oakland. This makes California one of the higher-paying states, at 16.07% above the national median of $74,332. The state employs approximately 6,710 occupational therapy assistants.

What is the highest paying city for occupational therapy assistants in California?

Oakland offers the highest occupational therapy assistant salary in California at $102,899/year ($49.47/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Oakland ($102,899), Fremont ($100,630), San Francisco ($100,610). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for occupational therapy services, and competition among employers for licensed occupational therapy assistants.

How does California occupational therapy assistant pay compare to the national average?

California's average occupational therapy assistant salary of $86,277 is 16.07% above the national median of $74,332 in 2026. The state employs approximately 6,710 occupational therapy assistants across 157 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level occupational therapy assistant salary in California?

Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) in California earn approximately $65,895/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $52,253 in lower-paying areas to $84,613 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many occupational therapy assistants are employed in California?

California employs approximately 6,710 occupational therapy assistants across 157 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes California one of the larger employers of occupational therapy assistants nationally. Demand continues to grow as the occupational therapy field expands and the population ages.

Which California city offers the best value for occupational therapy assistants?

When adjusted for cost of living, Bakersfield offers the highest purchasing power for occupational therapy assistants in California, with an adjusted salary of $97,006 (nominal: $97,865, CoL index: 100.886). This means your dollar goes 1% less far compared to the national average, making it important to negotiate higher base pay.

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

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.81% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 occupational therapy assistant compensation across California. State averages are employment-weighted across 157 metro areas — larger metro areas with more occupational therapy assistantscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.81%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for occupational therapy assistants (SOC 31-2011).

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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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