OT Assistant Salary

Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Louisville, CO: $71,541 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time occupational therapy assistant in Louisville, CO earns a median $71,541/year (≈ $34.39/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Once you factor in Louisville's price level (5% above national, BEA RPP 105.0), that paycheck buys what $68,134 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.8% below the Colorado state average.

$71,541
Median Annual Salary
$34.39/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$54,128
Entry Level (P10)
$83,922
Top Earners (P90)

Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source

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

Occupational therapy assistants in Louisville, CO, can expect a median annual salary of $71,541 in 2026, which is slightly below the national median of $74,332. Salary ranges for this role vary significantly, with the lowest earners at $54,128 and the highest reaching $83,922. These figures derive from estimates based on 2025 BLS data, adjusted for local cost-of-living considerations. This salary context highlights the productivity expectations in the field, as the ability to effectively manage visits per day can directly influence earnings, particularly in diverse healthcare settings such as outpatient clinics and skilled nursing facilities.

About the Louisville Market

Salary estimated from Colorado average ($68,000) adjusted for local cost of living.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$54,128$26.02
Lower Range (P25)$62,432$30.02
Median (P50)(typical)$71,541$34.39
Upper Range (P75)$76,665$36.86
Top Earners (P90)$83,922$40.34

Median Salary Position

$54,128$83,922
City Median: $71,541
National: $74,332
P10–P90 Range

3.75% below the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Louisville

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for occupational therapy assistants in Louisville. The median salary is $71,541, compared to the national median of $74,332.$48.7K$58.6K$68.4K$78.3K$88.1K$54.1K10th Pctl$62.4K25th Pctl$71.5KMedian$76.7K75th Pctl$83.9K90th PctlUS Median$74.3K

In Louisville, CO, the occupational therapy assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $29,794 (2026 est.). At $71,541, the local median is 3.75% below the national median of $74,332.

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

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$1,376
per week
$5,961
per month
$71,531
per year

At 40 hours/week in Louisville: You'd be above the median

How Louisville Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay Compares

Louisville median: $71,541/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryLouisville Pays
Colorado Average$76,761-6.80% less
National Average$74,332-3.75% less
Horizontal bar chart comparing occupational therapy assistant median salary in Louisville ($71,541) with Colorado average ($76,761) and the US national median ($74,332).Louisville$71,541Colorado Avg$76,761-6.80%US National$74,332-3.75%

Occupational Therapy Assistants in Louisville, CO earn a median of $71,541 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.75% lower than the national median of $74,332 and 6.80% below the Colorado state average of $76,761.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$71,541
Nominal Salary
105
CoL Index
$68,134
Adjusted Salary

Louisville has a cost of living 5.00% above the national average.

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

The nominal salary is $71,541. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 105, the purchasing-power equivalent is $68,134, a loss of $3,407.$57.9K$64.8K$71.7K$78.6K$85.5K$71,541NominalSalary$68,134CoL Adjusted(CoL: 105) -4.76%US Median $74.3K

Louisville, CO has a cost-of-living index of 105 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $71,541 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $68,134 — a 4.76% reduction.

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2019 BLS Actual

$59,201

2025 BLS Actual

$69,586

2026 Current Est.

$71,541

2019–2027 Growth

+24.2%

Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Louisville (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 Louisville. Baseline $59,201 in 2025, projected to $73,552 by 2027.$56.3K$61.4K$66.4K$71.4K$76.4K2019202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$59.2K$60.6K$59.4K$61.8K$64.5K$66.5K$69.6K$71.5K$73.6K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2019$59,201Actual
2020$60,577Actual
2021$59,413Actual
2022$61,838Actual
2023$64,495Actual
2024$66,512Actual
2025$69,586Actual
2026(current)$71,541Estimated
2027$73,552Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Louisville metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 17.5% from $59,201 (2019) to $69,586 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $73,552 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,351 (24.24%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (20192025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Louisville 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)$54,128$62,432
3-5 years (Mid Career)$62,432$71,541
5+ years (Experienced)$71,541$76,665
10+ years (Top Earner)$76,665$83,922

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 Louisville

The local job market currently employs six occupational therapy assistants, placing some constraints on competitive dynamics. With a cost-of-living index sitting at 105, professionals need to consider their purchasing power when evaluating salaries in this area. Among competitors, skilled nursing facilities typically offer the highest pay, while school contracts, despite being more stable and predictable, tend to provide lower compensation. The pay spread can be attributed to productivity demands across settings, different reimbursement rates from Medicare, and variations in employment structures—such as part-time versus full-time contracts. To maximize earnings as an occupational therapy assistant in Louisville, it's advisable to pursue roles in healthcare environments that offer higher wage potential, stay informed about Medicare policy adjustments, and consider further education or certifications that can enhance marketability and pay, such as bridge programs for moving from COTA to MOT.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Louisville, CO in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median occupational therapy assistant salary in Louisville is $71,541/year ($34.39/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 2.81% annual growth). Salaries range from $54,128 at entry level (10th percentile) to $83,922 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Louisville at 3.8% below 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 Louisville, CO a good place to work as a occupational therapy assistant?

Louisville occupational therapy assistant salaries are 3.8% below the national average and 6.8% below the Colorado state average. The metro area employs approximately 6 occupational therapy assistants. With a cost-of-living index of 105, 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 Louisville?

The median occupational therapy assistant salary in Louisville is $71,541, and the 90th percentile earns $83,922. Reaching $100K in this market typically requires a combination of advanced certifications, working at multiple practices, or transitioning into education or consulting roles.

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

After adjusting for Louisville's cost-of-living index of 105 (where 100 equals the national average), the $71,541 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $68,134 in an average-cost city. This means living costs in Louisville 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 Louisville?

Occupational Therapy Assistants in Louisville earn a median hourly rate of $34.39, which translates to approximately $71,541/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $26.02 for entry-level positions to $40.34 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem occupational therapy assistants sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

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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 $69,586 for occupational therapy assistantsin the Louisville 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 Louisville is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).

View estimation methodology

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

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