Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Davenport, IA: $63,238 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time occupational therapy assistant in Davenport, IA earns a median $63,238/year (≈ $30.40/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Once you factor in Davenport's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.1), that paycheck buys what $70,991 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.9% below the Iowa state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the occupational therapy assistant salary in Davenport, IA is projected to be $63,238 annually, a figure significantly lower than the national median of $74,332. Salaries for professionals in this field range from $43,910 at the 10th percentile to $96,230 at the 90th percentile, reflecting a diverse pay scale influenced by various factors such as experience, work settings, and specialization. This data is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and highlights the opportunities for growth in the local job market, particularly for those who bridge from COTA to MOT, aiming for improved lifetime earnings through advanced education.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $43,910 | $21.12 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $48,794 | $23.46 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $63,238 | $30.40 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $84,417 | $40.59 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $96,230 | $46.26 |
Median Salary Position
14.92% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Davenport
In Davenport, IA, the occupational therapy assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $52,320 (2026 est.). At $63,238, the local median is 14.92% below the national median of $74,332.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Davenport: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Davenport Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay Compares
Davenport median: $63,238/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Davenport Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $67,203 | -5.90% less |
| National Average | $74,332 | -14.92% less |
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Davenport, IA earn a median of $63,238 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.92% lower than the national median of $74,332 and 5.90% below the Iowa state average of $67,203.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Davenport has a cost of living 10.92% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Davenport, IA has a cost-of-living index of 89.079 (below the national average of 100). A occupational therapy assistant earning $63,238 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $70,991 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.26% 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
$52,330
2025 BLS Actual
$61,510
2026 Current Est.
$63,238
2019–2027 Growth
+24.2%
Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Davenport (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.81% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $52,330 | Actual |
| 2020 | $53,547 | Actual |
| 2021 | $58,040 | Actual |
| 2022 | $58,040 | Actual |
| 2023 | $60,680 | Actual |
| 2024 | $58,770 | Actual |
| 2025 | $61,510 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $63,238 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65,015 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Davenport metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 17.5% from $52,330 (2019) to $61,510 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $65,015 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,685 (24.24%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Davenport 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) | $43,910 – $48,794 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $48,794 – $63,238 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $63,238 – $84,417 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $84,417 – $96,230 |
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 Davenport
Currently, Davenport employs approximately 60 occupational therapy assistants, positioning the city’s job market as stable yet modest. With a cost-of-living index of 89.079, residents may find that their compensation allows for a comfortable standard of living relative to other regions. Among local employers, skilled nursing facilities typically offer the highest pay, followed by inpatient rehab hospitals and outpatient clinics, while school districts may provide more predictable schedules but often with lower compensation. The discrepancy in salaries can arise from setting differences, productivity expectations, and the recent 15% Medicare cut impacting reimbursements for OTA services. For those striving to enhance their occupational therapy assistant pay in Davenport, seeking positions in high-demand settings and considering educational advancements could be strategic moves toward maximizing earnings in this evolving healthcare landscape.
More salary data for Davenport, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Davenport, IA in 2026?
Is Davenport, IA a good place to work as a occupational therapy assistant?
Can occupational therapy assistants make $100K in Davenport?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted occupational therapy assistant salary in Davenport?
How much does a occupational therapy assistant make per hour in Davenport?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
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 $61,510 for occupational therapy assistantsin the Davenport 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, 5-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