Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Yuba City, CA: $86,100 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time occupational therapy assistant in Yuba City, CA earns a median $86,100/year (≈ $41.39/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Once you factor in Yuba City's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $76,127 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.8% below the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the occupational therapy assistant salary in Yuba City is projected to reach a compelling $86,100, which surpasses the national median of $74,332 by a significant margin. This competitive compensation reflects the diverse healthcare settings within the region, including skilled nursing facilities, schools, and hospitals. The salary range is equally noteworthy, with entry-level positions starting at approximately $58,502 (P10) and experienced professionals earning up to $104,141 (P90). Local estimates derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional price variations, highlight the impact of structural factors such as post-Medicare cuts, which have shifted pay dynamics across these environments. Understanding what influences salaries in this context is critical for prospective occupational therapy assistants considering Yuba City as a career destination.
About the Yuba City Market
Salary estimated from California average ($80,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $58,502 | $28.13 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $75,898 | $36.49 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $86,100 | $41.39 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $92,984 | $44.70 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $104,141 | $50.07 |
Median Salary Position
15.83% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Yuba City
In Yuba City, CA, the occupational therapy assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $45,639 (2026 est.). At $86,100, the local median is 15.83% above the national median of $74,332.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Yuba City: You'd be above the median
How Yuba City Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay Compares
Yuba City median: $86,100/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Yuba City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $86,795 | -0.80% less |
| National Average | $74,332 | +15.83% more |
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Yuba City, CA earn a median of $86,100 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.83% higher than the national median of $74,332 and 0.80% below the California state average of $86,795.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Yuba City has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Yuba City, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $86,100 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $76,127 — a 11.58% 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
$71,249
2025 BLS Actual
$83,747
2026 Current Est.
$86,100
2019–2027 Growth
+24.2%
Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Yuba City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.81% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $71,249 | Actual |
| 2020 | $72,905 | Actual |
| 2021 | $71,503 | Actual |
| 2022 | $74,422 | Actual |
| 2023 | $77,619 | Actual |
| 2024 | $89,779 | Actual |
| 2025 | $83,747 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $86,100 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $88,520 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Yuba City metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 17.5% from $71,249 (2019) to $83,747 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $88,520 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,271 (24.24%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Yuba City 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $58,502 – $75,898 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $75,898 – $86,100 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $86,100 – $92,984 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $92,984 – $104,141 |
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 Yuba City
With only 10 occupational therapy assistants currently employed in Yuba City, the job market for this occupation is somewhat limited, which can influence salary expectations. The local cost of living is indexed at 113.1, indicating that living expenses are higher than the national average, which can affect take-home purchasing power for COTAs in the area. Among various employers, skilled nursing facilities typically offer higher compensation, especially in light of rising productivity expectations and the effect of the recent 15% Medicare reimbursement cut. This cut has created a disparity where positions in hospital inpatient rehab usually provide higher pay than contracts in school districts. Maximizing earnings in Yuba City may involve exploring opportunities in outpatient clinics or early intervention programs, which often provide incentives for weekend and PRN shifts. Prospective occupational therapy assistants should consider these factors when negotiating salary and selecting employment settings that align with their financial goals.
More salary data for Yuba City, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Yuba City, CA in 2026?
Is Yuba City, CA a good place to work as a occupational therapy assistant?
Can occupational therapy assistants make $100K in Yuba City?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted occupational therapy assistant salary in Yuba City?
How much does a occupational therapy assistant make per hour in Yuba City?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in California
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.
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 $83,747 for occupational therapy assistantsin the Yuba City 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
Salary data for Yuba City is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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