Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Urbana, IL: $62,322 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time occupational therapy assistant in Urbana, IL earns a median $62,322/year (≈ $29.96/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Once you factor in Urbana's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $64,183 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.8% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Occupational therapy assistants in Urbana, Illinois can anticipate a median annual salary of $62,322 in 2026, which falls short of the national median of $74,332 by 16.16%. Estimated earnings range from $48,187 at the 10th percentile to $76,244 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the varying productivity expectations in different settings. This local salary information is drawn from 2025 BLS data projections that account for state-level dynamics and regionally adjusted cost-of-living considerations. As occupational therapy assistant roles evolve, job opportunities in Urbana remain promising, though salary growth may be tempered by current national and local trends in healthcare compensation.
About the Urbana Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($68,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $48,187 | $23.16 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $55,331 | $26.60 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $62,322 | $29.96 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $68,192 | $32.79 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $76,244 | $36.65 |
Median Salary Position
16.16% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Urbana
In Urbana, IL, the occupational therapy assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $28,057 (2026 est.). At $62,322, the local median is 16.16% below the national median of $74,332.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Urbana: You'd be above the median
How Urbana Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay Compares
Urbana median: $62,322/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Urbana Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $63,465 | -1.80% less |
| National Average | $74,332 | -16.16% less |
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Urbana, IL earn a median of $62,322 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.16% lower than the national median of $74,332 and 1.80% below the Illinois state average of $63,465.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Urbana has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Urbana, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A occupational therapy assistant earning $62,322 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $64,183 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
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
$51,572
2025 BLS Actual
$60,619
2026 Current Est.
$62,322
2019–2027 Growth
+24.2%
Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Urbana (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.81% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $51,572 | Actual |
| 2020 | $52,771 | Actual |
| 2021 | $51,757 | Actual |
| 2022 | $53,870 | Actual |
| 2023 | $56,184 | Actual |
| 2024 | $63,814 | Actual |
| 2025 | $60,619 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,322 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $64,074 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Urbana metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 17.5% from $51,572 (2019) to $60,619 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $64,074 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,502 (24.24%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Urbana 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) | $48,187 – $55,331 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $55,331 – $62,322 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $62,322 – $68,192 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $68,192 – $76,244 |
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 Urbana
The job market for occupational therapy assistants in Urbana consists of a small but stable group of six professionals currently employed in the field. The cost of living index at 97.1 indicates a slightly lower living expense than the national average, which can positively influence the purchasing power of local salaries. Among the different sectors, skilled nursing facilities typically offer higher pay compared to outpatient clinics and school district contracts. Factors such as the productivity expectations of employers, varying demand in settings, and the impacts of the 15% Medicare reimbursement cut since 2022 significantly shape wage disparities in Urbana. To maximize their earnings, prospective occupational therapy assistants should consider contract roles in inpatient rehabilitation, explore positions offering weekend premiums, and seek out opportunities in settings that remain less affected by reimbursement cuts, contributing to a more robust occupational therapy assistant pay structure in Urbana, IL.
More salary data for Urbana, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Urbana, IL in 2026?
Is Urbana, IL a good place to work as a occupational therapy assistant?
Can occupational therapy assistants make $100K in Urbana?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted occupational therapy assistant salary in Urbana?
How much does a occupational therapy assistant make per hour in Urbana?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Illinois
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 $60,619 for occupational therapy assistantsin the Urbana 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 Urbana 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