OT Assistant Salary

Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Stockton, CA: $86,772 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time occupational therapy assistant in Stockton, CA earns a median $86,772/year (≈ $41.72/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Once you factor in Stockton's price level (5% above national, BEA RPP 105.1), that paycheck buys what $82,570 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the California state average.

$86,772
Median Annual Salary
$41.72/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$75,493
Entry Level (P10)
$106,635
Top Earners (P90)

Official BLS data · View source

Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Stockton, CA — 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Stockton, CA occupational therapy assistant salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

Occupational therapy assistants in Stockton, CA, are positioned to earn a median annual salary of $86,772 in 2026, reflecting a robust labor market for this role. The projected salary range shows significant potential, with figures spanning from $75,493 at the 10th percentile to $106,635 at the 90th percentile. This data derives from the 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, and compared to the national median of $74,332, represents a notable increase of 16.74% for COTAs in Stockton. Such a strong salary baseline underlines the advantages of pursuing further education, such as the COTA-to-MOT bridge programs, which can significantly enhance lifetime earnings over a professional career.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$75,493$36.29
Lower Range (P25)$80,459$38.69
Median (P50)(typical)$86,772$41.72
Upper Range (P75)$105,411$50.68
Top Earners (P90)$106,635$51.27

Median Salary Position

$74,332$106,635
City Median: $86,772
National: $74,332
P10–P90 Range

16.74% above the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Stockton

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for occupational therapy assistants in Stockton. The median salary is $86,772, compared to the national median of $74,332.$66.9K$78.2K$89.4K$100.7K$112.0K$75.5K10th Pctl$80.5K25th Pctl$86.8KMedian$105.4K75th Pctl$106.6K90th PctlUS Median$74.3K

In Stockton, CA, the occupational therapy assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $31,142 (2026 est.). At $86,772, the local median is 16.74% above the national median of $74,332.

Source: BLS OEWS projected to 2026. Percentiles reflect the distribution of occupational therapy assistant pay in the Stockton metro area.

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$1,669
per week
$7,232
per month
$86,778
per year

At 40 hours/week in Stockton: You'd be in the lower-middle range

How Stockton Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay Compares

Stockton median: $86,772/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryStockton Pays
National Average$74,332+16.74% more
Horizontal bar chart comparing occupational therapy assistant median salary in Stockton ($86,772) and the US national median ($74,332).Stockton$86,772US National$74,332+16.74%

Occupational Therapy Assistants in Stockton, CA earn a median of $86,772 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.74% higher than the national median of $74,332.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$86,772
Nominal Salary
105.089
CoL Index
$82,570
Adjusted Salary

Stockton has a cost of living 5.09% above the national average.

Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.

The nominal salary is $86,772. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 105.089, the purchasing-power equivalent is $82,570, a loss of $4,202.$63.2K$72.3K$81.5K$90.6K$99.8K$86,772NominalSalary$82,570CoL Adjusted(CoL: 105.089) -4.84%US Median $74.3K

Stockton, CA has a cost-of-living index of 105.089 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $86,772 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $82,570 — a 4.84% reduction.

Compare Purchasing Power

Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living

Select a city above to compare purchasing power

2019 BLS Actual

$76,410

2025 BLS Actual

$84,400

2026 Current Est.

$86,772

2019–2027 Growth

+16.8%

Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Stockton (20192027)

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

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for occupational therapy assistants in Stockton. Baseline $76,410 in 2025, projected to $89,210 by 2027.$67.9K$75.2K$82.6K$90.0K$97.3K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$76.4K$73.5K$72.1K$75.0K$81.3K$93.1K$84.4K$86.8K$89.2K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$76,410Actual
2020$73,474Actual
2021$72,061Actual
2022$75,003Actual
2023$81,320Actual
2024$93,115Actual
2025$84,400Actual
2026(current)$86,772Estimated
2027$89,210Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Stockton metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 10.5% from $76,410 (2019) to $84,400 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $89,210 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,800 (16.75%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Stockton metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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.

Salary by Experience Level

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$75,493$80,459
3-5 years (Mid Career)$80,459$86,772
5+ years (Experienced)$86,772$105,411
10+ years (Top Earner)$105,411$106,635

OTA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual occupational therapy assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

Occupational Therapy Assistant Job Market in Stockton

In Stockton, where approximately 60 occupational therapy assistants work, the job market remains competitive despite a cost-of-living index of 105.089, which is above the national average. This cost-of-living reality emphasizes the importance of understanding how much do occupational therapy assistants make in Stockton to ensure adequate purchasing power. Employers that typically offer higher pay include skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehab hospitals, whereas positions in schools and early intervention programs may yield lower salaries due to differing funding and reimbursement structures. Factors driving the salary spectrum here include productivity expectations, weekend or PRN premiums, contractual terms, and the impact of the 15% Medicare reimbursement cut enacted in 2022, especially felt in outpatient and SNF environments. For those aiming to maximize their occupational therapy assistant pay in Stockton CA, pursuing roles in higher-paying settings and considering additional certifications or further education will be beneficial strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Stockton, CA in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median occupational therapy assistant salary in Stockton is $86,772/year ($41.72/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 2.81% annual growth). Salaries range from $75,493 at entry level (10th percentile) to $106,635 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Stockton at 16.7% above the national median. Full-time occupational therapy assistants typically work 2,080 hours per year, though many positions offer part-time schedules with flexible hours across multiple practices.

Is Stockton, CA a good place to work as a occupational therapy assistant?

Stockton occupational therapy assistant salaries are 16.7% above the national average and 0.0% above the California state average. The metro area employs approximately 60 occupational therapy assistants. With a cost-of-living index of 105.089, you should factor in higher living costs when evaluating compensation. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can occupational therapy assistants make $100K in Stockton?

Top-earning occupational therapy assistants in Stockton (90th percentile) make $106,635/year, which exceeds $100K. The median is $86,772. To reach six figures, occupational therapy assistants typically need 5–10+ years of experience combined with specialty certifications and expanded-function credentials.

What is the cost-of-living adjusted occupational therapy assistant salary in Stockton?

After adjusting for Stockton's cost-of-living index of 105.089 (where 100 equals the national average), the $86,772 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $82,570 in an average-cost city. This means living costs in Stockton reduce the effective value of your salary by 4.8% compared to the national average — consider negotiating higher base pay or exploring nearby lower-cost metros.

How much does a occupational therapy assistant make per hour in Stockton?

Occupational Therapy Assistants in Stockton earn a median hourly rate of $41.72, which translates to approximately $86,772/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $36.29 for entry-level positions to $51.27 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem occupational therapy assistants sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

Related Pages

Nearby Cities in California

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

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. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $84,400 for occupational therapy assistantsin the Stockton metropolitan area. A 2.81% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 4-year dataset (). 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: