Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Key West, FL: $72,623 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time occupational therapy assistant in Key West, FL earns a median $72,623/year (≈ $34.91/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Once you factor in Key West's price level (1% above national, BEA RPP 100.8), that paycheck buys what $72,047 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.5% below the Florida state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Occupational therapy assistants in Key West, Florida, can expect a median annual salary of $72,623 in 2026, which reflects a slight decrease compared to the national figure of $74,332. With salaries ranging from $52,184 at the 10th percentile to $84,540 at the 90th percentile, the local market indicates a competitive landscape despite recent challenges. The structuring of job roles—whether in skilled nursing facilities, schools, or hospitals—can impact earnings significantly. Following recent Medicare cuts, the financial realities differ markedly across these settings, influencing overall occupational therapy assistant pay in Key West, FL, and driving fluctuations in salary expectations across various employers.
About the Key West Market
Salary estimated from Florida average ($68,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $52,184 | $25.09 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $61,772 | $29.70 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $72,623 | $34.91 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $78,405 | $37.69 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $84,540 | $40.64 |
Median Salary Position
2.3% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Key West
In Key West, FL, the occupational therapy assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $32,356 (2026 est.). At $72,623, the local median is 2.3% below the national median of $74,332.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Key West: You'd be above the median
How Key West Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay Compares
Key West median: $72,623/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Key West Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Average | $73,729 | -1.50% less |
| National Average | $74,332 | -2.30% less |
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Key West, FL earn a median of $72,623 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.30% lower than the national median of $74,332 and 1.50% below the Florida state average of $73,729.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Key West has a cost of living 0.80% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Key West, FL has a cost-of-living index of 100.8 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $72,623 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $72,047 — a 0.79% 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
$60,096
2025 BLS Actual
$70,638
2026 Current Est.
$72,623
2019–2027 Growth
+24.2%
Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Key West (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.81% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $60,096 | Actual |
| 2020 | $61,493 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,311 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,773 | Actual |
| 2023 | $65,470 | Actual |
| 2024 | $67,538 | Actual |
| 2025 | $70,638 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $72,623 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $74,664 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Key West metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 17.5% from $60,096 (2019) to $70,638 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $74,664 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,568 (24.24%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Key West 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) | $52,184 – $61,772 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $61,772 – $72,623 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $72,623 – $78,405 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $78,405 – $84,540 |
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 Key West
Analyzing the local job market reveals that currently, only four occupational therapy assistants are employed in Key West, highlighting both a limited workforce and a potential tight-knit community atmosphere. The area's cost of living index stands at 100.8, just above the national average, which affects take-home purchasing power. Specifically, skilled nursing facilities and hospital roles tend to offer the most lucrative positions, although the structural realities post-Medicare cuts have made pay less predictable. Pay disparities are driven by factors such as worker productivity expectations, weekend or PRN premiums, and whether the positions are contracted within a school-year framework versus year-round contracts. To maximize earnings, new COTAs should consider pursuing contracts with facilities that offer higher reimbursement rates or look into furthering their education along COTA-to-MOT bridge pathways to open up additional, more lucrative career options.
More salary data for Key West, FL:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Key West, FL in 2026?
Is Key West, FL a good place to work as a occupational therapy assistant?
Can occupational therapy assistants make $100K in Key West?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted occupational therapy assistant salary in Key West?
How much does a occupational therapy assistant make per hour in Key West?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Florida
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 $70,638 for occupational therapy assistantsin the Key West 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 Key West 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