Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Wichita, KS: $66,055 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time occupational therapy assistant in Wichita, KS earns a median $66,055/year (≈ $31.76/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Once you factor in Wichita's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 88.9), that paycheck buys what $74,264 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.2% below the Kansas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, an occupational therapy assistant salary in Wichita, Kansas, is projected to average $66,055 annually, reflecting a noticeable gap when juxtaposed with the national median of $74,332. The salary range for these positions spans from $54,993 at the 10th percentile to $78,938 at the 90th percentile. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, highlights the economic realities faced by COTAs working in diverse environments, ranging from skilled nursing facilities (SNF) to schools and hospital settings. The financial fluctuations in pay are influenced by the 15% Medicare Part B cuts and vary across different employment structures, impacting how much do occupational therapy assistants make in Wichita and setting the stage for future hiring trends.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $54,993 | $26.43 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $62,827 | $30.21 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $66,055 | $31.76 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $76,007 | $36.54 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $78,938 | $37.95 |
Median Salary Position
11.14% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Wichita
In Wichita, KS, the occupational therapy assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $23,945 (2026 est.). At $66,055, the local median is 11.14% below the national median of $74,332.
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At 40 hours/week in Wichita: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Wichita Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay Compares
Wichita median: $66,055/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Wichita Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Average | $67,541 | -2.20% less |
| National Average | $74,332 | -11.14% less |
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Wichita, KS earn a median of $66,055 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.14% lower than the national median of $74,332 and 2.20% below the Kansas state average of $67,541.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Wichita has a cost of living 11.05% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Wichita, KS has a cost-of-living index of 88.946 (below the national average of 100). A occupational therapy assistant earning $66,055 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $74,264 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.43% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$62,010
2025 BLS Actual
$64,250
2026 Current Est.
$66,055
2019–2027 Growth
+9.5%
Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Wichita (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.81% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,010 | Actual |
| 2020 | $61,210 | Actual |
| 2021 | $60,490 | Actual |
| 2022 | $58,110 | Actual |
| 2023 | $62,150 | Actual |
| 2024 | $63,810 | Actual |
| 2025 | $64,250 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $66,055 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $67,912 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Wichita metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 3.6% from $62,010 (2019) to $64,250 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $67,912 by 2027 — a total increase of $5,902 (9.52%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wichita 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) | $54,993 – $62,827 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $62,827 – $66,055 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $66,055 – $76,007 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $76,007 – $78,938 |
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 Wichita
With approximately 180 occupational therapy assistants employed in Wichita, job opportunities remain robust, especially considering the city's cost of living index at 88.946—indicating affordability compared to the national average. Settings that typically offer the best pay include hospital inpatient rehabilitation centers, which tend to have higher productivity expectations, followed by outpatient clinics. Conversely, skilled nursing facilities usually lag in pay due to the lingering effects of Medicare reimbursement cuts since 2022. Local COTAs looking to maximize their occupational therapy assistant pay in Wichita KS should consider exploring year-round contracts or roles in higher-paying facilities, while also taking advantage of educational pathways such as COTA-to-MOT bridge programs to enhance their credentials and expand their earning potential.
More salary data for Wichita, KS:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Wichita, KS in 2026?
Is Wichita, KS a good place to work as a occupational therapy assistant?
Can occupational therapy assistants make $100K in Wichita?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted occupational therapy assistant salary in Wichita?
How much does a occupational therapy assistant make per hour in Wichita?
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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 $64,250 for occupational therapy assistantsin the Wichita 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, 7-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