Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Lincoln, NE: $64,955 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time occupational therapy assistant in Lincoln, NE earns a median $64,955/year (≈ $31.23/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Once you factor in Lincoln's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.6), that paycheck buys what $70,926 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.5% below the Nebraska state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Occupational therapy assistants in Lincoln, Nebraska, earn a median annual salary of $64,955, reflecting their essential role in healthcare settings, particularly in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), hospitals, and schools. With salaries ranging from $49,935 at the 10th percentile to $80,027 at the 90th percentile, these figures underscore the variance based on the setting and the current realities following recent Medicare cuts. These statistics are derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and serve as a solid benchmark for understanding occupational therapy assistant pay in Lincoln. The discrepancy between local salaries and the national median annual salary of $74,332 shows the challenges that professionals in this field face in a competitive yet constrained market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $49,935 | $24.01 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $53,441 | $25.69 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $64,955 | $31.23 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $74,589 | $35.86 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $80,027 | $38.47 |
Median Salary Position
12.62% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lincoln
In Lincoln, NE, the occupational therapy assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $30,092 (2026 est.). At $64,955, the local median is 12.62% below the national median of $74,332.
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At 40 hours/week in Lincoln: You'd be above the median
How Lincoln Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay Compares
Lincoln median: $64,955/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lincoln Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Average | $68,016 | -4.50% less |
| National Average | $74,332 | -12.62% less |
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Lincoln, NE earn a median of $64,955 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.62% lower than the national median of $74,332 and 4.50% below the Nebraska state average of $68,016.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lincoln has a cost of living 8.42% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lincoln, NE has a cost-of-living index of 91.581 (below the national average of 100). A occupational therapy assistant earning $64,955 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $70,926 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.19% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$53,751
2025 BLS Actual
$63,180
2026 Current Est.
$64,955
2019–2027 Growth
+24.2%
Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Lincoln (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.81% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $53,751 | Actual |
| 2020 | $55,001 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,870 | Actual |
| 2022 | $56,145 | Actual |
| 2023 | $56,630 | Actual |
| 2024 | $61,210 | Actual |
| 2025 | $63,180 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $64,955 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $66,781 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lincoln metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 17.5% from $53,751 (2019) to $63,180 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $66,781 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,030 (24.24%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lincoln 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) | $49,935 – $53,441 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $53,441 – $64,955 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $64,955 – $74,589 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $74,589 – $80,027 |
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 Lincoln
With around 40 occupational therapy assistants employed in Lincoln, the job market remains relatively stable, especially given the area's cost of living, which stands at an index of 91.581—below the national average. This lower cost of living can enhance take-home purchasing power, despite salaries being lower than the national norm. Notably, those working in hospital inpatient rehab typically earn more than their counterparts in skilled nursing facilities, which have experienced pay compression due to the 15% Medicare reimbursement cut that took effect in 2022. The pay spectrum reflects factors such as the productivity expectations of different settings and the nature of employment contracts, ranging from school-year positions to year-round contracts. To maximize pay in Lincoln, occupational therapy assistants may consider specializing in areas with higher demand or pursuing additional certifications, thus enhancing their marketability in a changing healthcare landscape.
More salary data for Lincoln, NE:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can occupational therapy assistants make $100K in Lincoln?
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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 $63,180 for occupational therapy assistantsin the Lincoln 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, 4-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