Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Harrisburg, PA: $62,951 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time occupational therapy assistant in Harrisburg, PA earns a median $62,951/year (≈ $30.27/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Once you factor in Harrisburg's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.7), that paycheck buys what $63,812 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.3% below the Pennsylvania state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the compensation for occupational therapy assistants in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is projected to reach a median annual salary of $62,951. This salary reflects a competitive local compensation landscape, especially when considering the wider salary range from $54,037 at the 10th percentile to $80,819 at the 90th percentile. Such figures, sourced from 2025 BLS OEWS data and projected for 2026, reveal a notable contrast with the national median of $74,332, positioning Harrisburg's occupational therapy assistant pay approximately 15.31% lower. As productivity expectations are high, the number of therapy visits per day significantly influences effective compensation for these professionals, impacting both their overall earnings and daily job performance.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $54,037 | $25.98 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $59,239 | $28.48 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $62,951 | $30.27 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $74,866 | $35.99 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $80,819 | $38.85 |
Median Salary Position
15.31% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Harrisburg
In Harrisburg, PA, the occupational therapy assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $26,782 (2026 est.). At $62,951, the local median is 15.31% below the national median of $74,332.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Harrisburg: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Harrisburg Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay Compares
Harrisburg median: $62,951/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Harrisburg Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $65,779 | -4.30% less |
| National Average | $74,332 | -15.31% less |
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Harrisburg, PA earn a median of $62,951 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.31% lower than the national median of $74,332 and 4.30% below the Pennsylvania state average of $65,779.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Harrisburg has a cost of living 1.35% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Harrisburg, PA has a cost-of-living index of 98.65 (below the national average of 100). A occupational therapy assistant earning $62,951 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $63,812 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.37% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$55,870
2025 BLS Actual
$61,230
2026 Current Est.
$62,951
2019–2027 Growth
+15.8%
Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Harrisburg (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.81% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $55,870 | Actual |
| 2020 | $60,480 | Actual |
| 2021 | $50,240 | Actual |
| 2022 | $60,350 | Actual |
| 2023 | $65,200 | Actual |
| 2024 | $61,560 | Actual |
| 2025 | $61,230 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $62,951 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $64,719 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Harrisburg metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 9.6% from $55,870 (2019) to $61,230 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $64,719 by 2027 — a total increase of $8,849 (15.84%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Harrisburg 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) | $54,037 – $59,239 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $59,239 – $62,951 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $62,951 – $74,866 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $74,866 – $80,819 |
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 Harrisburg
The local job market supports around 130 occupational therapy assistants, offering a stable employment base in Harrisburg. Given the cost of living index of 98.65, professionals in this field may find their purchasing power slightly enhanced, as living expenses are below the national average. Employers that typically offer higher compensation include skilled nursing facilities and hospital inpatient rehab, while roles in school districts and outpatient clinics may provide less competitive rates. The variance in salaries often stems from factors such as the setting of employment, patient load, and the implications of the recent 15% Medicare reimbursement cut on OTA-provided services. To maximize earning potential, COTAs should consider specializing in settings with higher demand, pursuing further education, or pursuing different contracts that may offer higher pay, particularly in competitive environments like home health agencies and intervention programs.
More salary data for Harrisburg, PA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in Harrisburg, PA in 2026?
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Can occupational therapy assistants make $100K in Harrisburg?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted occupational therapy assistant salary in Harrisburg?
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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 $61,230 for occupational therapy assistantsin the Harrisburg 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