Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Fayetteville, NC: $65,809 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time occupational therapy assistant in Fayetteville, NC earns a median $65,809/year (≈ $31.64/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Once you factor in Fayetteville's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.0), that paycheck buys what $71,549 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 6.1% below the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Fayetteville, North Carolina, prospective occupational therapy assistants can look forward to a median annual salary projected at $65,809 in 2026. This salary falls within a range from $55,877 at the lower end (P10) to $81,672 at the higher end (P90), reflecting the varied experiences and settings within the field. The data comes from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected into 2026, indicating that while local salaries may lag behind the national median of $74,332 by 11.47%, there is still significant potential for career advancement. The timeline for pursuing a bridge from a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) to a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) can enhance lifetime earnings and job stability, particularly as demand for qualified professionals continues to grow in Fayetteville's healthcare landscape.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $55,877 | $26.86 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $62,539 | $30.06 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $65,809 | $31.64 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $74,722 | $35.92 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $81,672 | $39.26 |
Median Salary Position
11.47% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fayetteville
In Fayetteville, NC, the occupational therapy assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $25,795 (2026 est.). At $65,809, the local median is 11.47% below the national median of $74,332.
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At 40 hours/week in Fayetteville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Fayetteville Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay Compares
Fayetteville median: $65,809/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fayetteville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $70,084 | -6.10% less |
| National Average | $74,332 | -11.47% less |
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Fayetteville, NC earn a median of $65,809 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.47% lower than the national median of $74,332 and 6.10% below the North Carolina state average of $70,084.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fayetteville has a cost of living 8.02% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fayetteville, NC has a cost-of-living index of 91.978 (below the national average of 100). A occupational therapy assistant earning $65,809 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $71,549 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.72% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$54,457
2025 BLS Actual
$64,010
2026 Current Est.
$65,809
2019–2027 Growth
+24.2%
Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Fayetteville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.81% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $54,457 | Actual |
| 2020 | $71,630 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,810 | Actual |
| 2022 | $59,270 | Actual |
| 2023 | $64,720 | Actual |
| 2024 | $67,250 | Actual |
| 2025 | $64,010 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $65,809 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $67,658 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fayetteville metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 17.5% from $54,457 (2019) to $64,010 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $67,658 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,201 (24.24%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fayetteville 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) | $55,877 – $62,539 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $62,539 – $65,809 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $65,809 – $74,722 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $74,722 – $81,672 |
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 Fayetteville
The local job market for occupational therapy assistants in Fayetteville is solid, with approximately 70 professionals currently employed in this role. The cost of living index in Fayetteville stands at 91.978, which is below the national average, suggesting that take-home pay may stretch further in this region compared to other areas. Employers such as skilled nursing facilities and hospital inpatient rehab centers often offer the highest compensation, while school contracts and early intervention programs generally pay less. The variability in pay can be attributed to several factors, including the setting of practice, productivity expectations, and the impact of the 15% Medicare reimbursement cut for OTA services enacted in 2022. To maximize pay in Fayetteville, work experience in higher-paying settings and negotiating for year-round contracts can be effective strategies, especially as the area anticipates a 2.81% annual growth rate in job opportunities over the next five years.
More salary data for Fayetteville, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can occupational therapy assistants make $100K in Fayetteville?
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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 $64,010 for occupational therapy assistantsin the Fayetteville 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, 6-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