Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in Columbia, SC: $76,419 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time occupational therapy assistant in Columbia, SC earns a median $76,419/year (≈ $36.74/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Once you factor in Columbia's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.7), that paycheck buys what $81,590 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.5% above the South Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
The estimated occupational therapy assistant salary in Columbia, SC is projected to reach $76,419 annually in 2026. This figure represents a competitive pay scale in the region, especially when considering the full salary range which spans from $31,892 at the entry-level (P10) to $88,355 for those in higher-paying roles (P90). Derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, this salary reflects post-Medicare cut realities, which have particularly impacted settings like skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and, to a lesser extent, outpatient care. In this environment, occupational therapy assistants in Columbia are finding opportunities that likely hinge on meeting the varied demands of their work settings, whether in hospitals, schools, or rehabilitation facilities.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $31,892 | $15.33 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $54,345 | $26.12 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $76,419 | $36.74 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $81,261 | $39.07 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $88,355 | $42.48 |
Median Salary Position
2.81% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Columbia
In Columbia, SC, the occupational therapy assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $56,463 (2026 est.). At $76,419, the local median is 2.81% above the national median of $74,332.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Columbia: You'd be in the upper quartile
How Columbia Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay Compares
Columbia median: $76,419/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Columbia Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Average | $76,038 | +0.50% more |
| National Average | $74,332 | +2.81% more |
Occupational Therapy Assistants in Columbia, SC earn a median of $76,419 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.81% higher than the national median of $74,332 and 0.50% above the South Carolina state average of $76,038.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Columbia has a cost of living 6.34% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Columbia, SC has a cost-of-living index of 93.662 (below the national average of 100). A occupational therapy assistant earning $76,419 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $81,590 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.77% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$63,237
2025 BLS Actual
$74,330
2026 Current Est.
$76,419
2019–2027 Growth
+24.2%
Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in Columbia (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.81% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $63,237 | Actual |
| 2020 | $62,180 | Actual |
| 2021 | $62,730 | Actual |
| 2022 | $63,980 | Actual |
| 2023 | $71,750 | Actual |
| 2024 | $73,550 | Actual |
| 2025 | $74,330 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $76,419 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $78,566 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Columbia metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 17.5% from $63,237 (2019) to $74,330 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $78,566 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,329 (24.24%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Columbia 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) | $31,892 – $54,345 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $54,345 – $76,419 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $76,419 – $81,261 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $81,261 – $88,355 |
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 Columbia
Analyzing the local job market reveals a strong presence of roughly 120 occupational therapy assistants in the Columbia area, with the cost of living index at 93.662, indicating a below-average cost that can enhance take-home purchasing power. While skilled nursing facilities and hospital inpatient rehabilitation centers tend to offer the highest salaries, outpatient clinics and school district contracts generally follow in pay, influenced by factors such as productivity expectations and the impact of the 15% Medicare reimbursement cut enacted in 2022. To maximize occupational therapy assistant pay in Columbia, candidates may benefit from pursuing year-round contracts or considering PRN positions, which often come with weekend premiums. Furthermore, broadening credentials through pathways like COTA-to-MOT can also enhance earning potential in this evolving job market.
More salary data for Columbia, SC:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can occupational therapy assistants make $100K in Columbia?
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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 $74,330 for occupational therapy assistantsin the Columbia 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