Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Ohio: $65,747 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Ohio's 67 metropolitan areas, the average median occupational therapy assistant pay sits at $65,747/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 31-2011. Because Ohio sits at BEA RPP 90.7 (9% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $72,488 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Springfield ($74,950), Beavercreek ($70,129), Dayton ($70,020).

Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Ohio - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — Ohio occupational therapy assistant salary overview (2026)

$65,747

Avg Median Salary

$31.61

Avg Hourly Rate

3,568

Metro Employed

Cities

As you consider the field of occupational therapy assisting in Ohio, it's important to note that the average median salary in the state for 2026 is projected at $65,747. This figure falls 11.5% below the national median of $74,332. In Ohio, Springfield leads with a salary of $77,056, while Solon represents the lower end at $59,981, highlighting a gap of $17,075 between the highest and lowest paying cities. Factors contributing to this difference may include local demand, cost of living variances, and specific healthcare facility funding. Ohio's occupational therapy assistants must navigate state licensing requirements and scope of practice laws, which can influence potential earnings and job responsibilities. The state's projected annual growth rate for employment in this sector is 2.81%, reflecting a steady demand for skilled professionals. With a total employment figure of 3,568 in this field, cities such as Beavercreek ($72,100), Dayton ($71,988), Kettering ($71,017), and Cincinnati ($69,356) also offer competitive salaries. As a result, the job market for occupational therapy assistants in Ohio is stable, suggesting a positive outlook for prospective entrants into the field.

Ohio Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$51,088

avg across 67 cities

Median

$65,747

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$82,055

avg across 67 cities

Overall salary range in Ohio: $39,088 (lowest entry-level) to $90,761 (highest top earner)

Ohio vs National Average

Ohio

$65,747

National Median

$74,332

Ohio occupational therapy assistants earn 11.55% less than the national median ($-8,585/year difference).

Ohio Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary Distribution (2026)

Occupational Therapy Assistant salaries in Ohio range from $51,088 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $82,055 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $65,747. The Ohio median is $8,585 below the US national median of $74,332. The average hourly rate is $31.61/hr. Approximately 3,568 occupational therapy assistants are employed across 67 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$59,942

2025 BLS Actual

$63,950

2026 Current Est.

$65,747

2019–2027 Growth

+12.8%

Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Ohio (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.81% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$59,942	Actual
2020	$61,212	Actual
2021	$61,603	Actual
2022	$61,192	Actual
2023	$63,558	Actual
2024	$62,811	Actual
2025	$63,950	Actual
2026(current)	$65,747	Estimated
2027	$67,594	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Ohio metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 6.7% from $59,942 (2019) to $63,950 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $67,594 by 2027 — a total increase of $7,652 (12.77%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Ohio 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.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Ohio

Springfield

30 employed · $37.04/hr

$77,056

+17.20% vs avg

Beavercreek

8 employed · $34.67/hr

$72,100

+9.66% vs avg

Dayton

270 employed · $34.61/hr

$71,988

+9.49% vs avg

Kettering

10 employed · $34.14/hr

$71,017

+8.02% vs avg

Cincinnati

480 employed · $33.34/hr

$69,356

+5.49% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Ohio

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Solon	$59,981	-8.77%	$28.84
Centerville	$59,991	-8.75%	$28.84
Avon Lake	$60,123	-8.55%	$28.91
Wadsworth	$60,167	-8.49%	$28.93
Tiffin	$60,217	-8.41%	$28.95

Best Value Cities for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Ohio

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Ohio cities offer the most purchasing power for occupational therapy assistants.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Springfield	$77,056	90.482	$85,162
Beavercreek	$72,100	90.7	$79,493
Kettering	$71,017	90.7	$78,299
Dayton	$71,988	92.694	$77,662
Canton	$66,055	89.406	$73,882

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Ohio

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$51,088	$24.56	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$65,747	$31.61	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$82,055	$39.45	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Ohio metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 67 Cities in Ohio

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Springfield	$77,056	$37.04	$59,445	$80,192	30
2	Beavercreek	$72,100	$34.67	$53,892	$88,932	8
3	Dayton	$71,988	$34.61	$56,247	$84,417	270
4	Kettering	$71,017	$34.14	$51,853	$90,761	10
5	Cincinnati	$69,356	$33.34	$60,319	$83,070	480
6	Canton	$66,055	$31.76	$57,779	$78,094	210
7	Lorain	$65,968	$31.72	$44,807	$79,685	12
8	Parma	$65,787	$31.62	$46,376	$79,098	12
9	Cuyahoga Falls	$65,519	$31.50	$45,482	$78,398	11
10	Toledo	$65,500	$31.49	$54,973	$80,377	250
11	Hamilton	$65,291	$31.39	$45,156	$84,016	11
12	Columbus	$65,264	$31.38	$39,088	$87,049	610
13	Massillon	$65,160	$31.33	$49,315	$80,605	7
14	Sandusky	$65,038	$31.26	$54,243	$76,521	50
15	Lakewood	$64,934	$31.21	$44,403	$83,017	11
16	Bowling Green	$64,848	$31.18	$47,787	$76,566	7
17	Lancaster	$64,828	$31.17	$47,738	$78,796	7
18	Zanesville	$64,823	$31.16	$47,725	$76,485	5
19	Westlake	$64,712	$31.11	$47,456	$76,134	5
20	Middletown	$64,686	$31.10	$47,394	$78,342	9
21	Grove City	$64,499	$31.01	$46,942	$75,463	7
22	Cleveland	$64,462	$31.00	$52,505	$80,058	720
23	Delaware	$64,447	$30.99	$46,820	$75,143	7
24	Gahanna	$64,438	$30.98	$46,796	$75,271	9
25	Westerville	$64,397	$30.96	$46,698	$75,144	8
26	Huber Heights	$64,245	$30.88	$46,062	$74,667	11
27	North Ridgeville	$64,195	$30.86	$46,212	$74,508	8
28	Akron	$64,133	$30.83	$49,832	$83,091	280
29	North Royalton	$64,103	$30.82	$45,724	$74,224	7
30	North Olmsted	$63,876	$30.71	$45,452	$79,711	8
31	Reynoldsburg	$63,764	$30.66	$44,918	$79,353	8
32	Strongsville	$63,552	$30.56	$44,416	$78,675	8
33	Mansfield	$63,485	$30.52	$44,261	$78,465	11
34	Brunswick	$63,156	$30.36	$48,898	$77,225	6
35	Wooster	$63,156	$30.36	$48,698	$77,420	6
36	Elyria	$63,057	$30.32	$45,234	$76,956	14
37	Shaker Heights	$62,930	$30.26	$48,353	$76,541	7
38	Medina	$62,888	$30.24	$48,318	$76,574	6
39	Dublin	$62,685	$30.13	$47,830	$75,939	9
40	Fairfield	$62,680	$30.13	$47,752	$77,984	9
41	Mentor	$62,614	$30.10	$47,595	$77,777	9
42	Mason	$62,341	$29.97	$46,746	$74,863	7
43	Avon	$62,263	$29.94	$46,346	$72,269	6
44	Lima	$62,251	$29.93	$48,362	$74,075	50
45	Marion	$62,169	$29.89	$46,535	$74,136	7
46	Stow	$62,164	$29.89	$46,325	$74,313	9
47	Newark	$62,128	$29.87	$46,504	$74,203	10
48	Findlay	$62,062	$29.84	$46,348	$73,999	8
49	Green	$61,967	$29.79	$45,859	$75,895	4
50	Barberton	$61,967	$29.79	$46,122	$73,702	6
51	Austintown	$61,941	$29.78	$45,800	$73,623	7
52	Cleveland Heights	$61,931	$29.77	$46,037	$73,592	9
53	Upper Arlington	$61,849	$29.73	$45,781	$73,188	9
54	Xenia	$61,849	$29.73	$45,846	$73,188	7
55	Hilliard	$61,773	$29.70	$45,407	$73,108	9
56	Oxford	$61,581	$29.61	$44,605	$73,720	6
57	Chillicothe	$61,449	$29.55	$44,083	$73,460	6
58	Perrysburg	$61,222	$29.43	$48,948	$72,618	6
59	Trotwood	$61,203	$29.42	$48,898	$72,558	6
60	Warren	$60,970	$29.31	$42,725	$75,157	9
61	Youngstown	$60,822	$29.24	$52,042	$89,815	180
62	Athens	$60,555	$29.12	$45,478	$70,734	5
63	Tiffin	$60,217	$28.95	$46,528	$69,569	6
64	Wadsworth	$60,167	$28.93	$46,146	$69,566	6
65	Avon Lake	$60,123	$28.91	$46,235	$69,289	5
66	Centerville	$59,991	$28.84	$45,717	$69,037	6
67	Solon	$59,981	$28.84	$45,954	$70,920	6

More Ohio Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore occupational therapy assistant hourly pay in Ohio cities.

Springfield →Beavercreek →Dayton →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new occupational therapy assistants.

Springfield →Beavercreek →Dayton →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced occupational therapy assistants.

Springfield →Beavercreek →Dayton →

Compare Cities in Ohio

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Explore More Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary Data

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Ohio in 2026?

The average median occupational therapy assistant salary in Ohio is $65,747/year across 67 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $59,981 in Solon to $77,056 in Springfield. This makes Ohio 11.55% below the national median of $74,332. The state employs approximately 3,568 occupational therapy assistants.

What is the highest paying city for occupational therapy assistants in Ohio?

Springfield offers the highest occupational therapy assistant salary in Ohio at $77,056/year ($37.04/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Springfield ($77,056), Beavercreek ($72,100), Dayton ($71,988). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for occupational therapy services, and competition among employers for licensed occupational therapy assistants.

How does Ohio occupational therapy assistant pay compare to the national average?

Ohio's average occupational therapy assistant salary of $65,747 is 11.55% below the national median of $74,332 in 2026. The state employs approximately 3,568 occupational therapy assistants across 67 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level occupational therapy assistant salary in Ohio?

Entry-level occupational therapy assistants (10th percentile) in Ohio earn approximately $51,088/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $39,088 in lower-paying areas to $60,319 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many occupational therapy assistants are employed in Ohio?

Ohio employs approximately 3,568 occupational therapy assistants across 67 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. Job availability varies by metro area, with larger cities offering more opportunities. Demand continues to grow as the occupational therapy field expands and the population ages.

Which Ohio city offers the best value for occupational therapy assistants?

When adjusted for cost of living, Springfield offers the highest purchasing power for occupational therapy assistants in Ohio, with an adjusted salary of $85,162 (nominal: $77,056, CoL index: 90.482). This means your dollar goes 11% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

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.

Clinically reviewed by Maria Gonzalez, COTA/LData verified by Samuel Chen, OTR/L

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide 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. A 2.81% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 occupational therapy assistant compensation across Ohio. State averages are employment-weighted across 67 metro areas — larger metro areas with more occupational therapy assistantscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). 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

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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