Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary in El Paso, TX: $76,737 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time occupational therapy assistant in El Paso, TX earns a median $76,737/year (≈ $36.89/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2011). Once you factor in El Paso's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 89.9), that paycheck buys what $85,347 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.0% below the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In El Paso, Texas, the 2026 projected median annual salary for an occupational therapy assistant is $76,737, reflecting a competitive position in the local job market. The salary range spans from $62,015 at the 10th percentile to $91,953 at the 90th percentile. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, indicates a favorable outlook for occupational therapy assistant pay in El Paso TX, especially in comparison to the national median of $74,332. Such financial prospects are likely influenced by the productivity expectations tied to patient visits per day, which are significant in determining compensation levels in various settings, including hospitals and outpatient clinics.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $62,015 | $29.81 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $70,548 | $33.92 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $76,737 | $36.89 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $79,966 | $38.44 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $91,953 | $44.21 |
Median Salary Position
3.24% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in El Paso
In El Paso, TX, the occupational therapy assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $29,938 (2026 est.). At $76,737, the local median is 3.24% above the national median of $74,332.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in El Paso: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How El Paso Occupational Therapy Assistant Pay Compares
El Paso median: $76,737/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | El Paso Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $78,303 | -2.00% less |
| National Average | $74,332 | +3.24% more |
Occupational Therapy Assistants in El Paso, TX earn a median of $76,737 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.24% higher than the national median of $74,332 and 2.00% below the Texas state average of $78,303.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
El Paso has a cost of living 10.09% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
El Paso, TX has a cost-of-living index of 89.912 (below the national average of 100). A occupational therapy assistant earning $76,737 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $85,347 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.22% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$54,880
2025 BLS Actual
$74,640
2026 Current Est.
$76,737
2019–2027 Growth
+43.8%
Salary Trajectory for Occupational Therapy Assistants in El Paso (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.81% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $54,880 | Actual |
| 2020 | $52,590 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,720 | Actual |
| 2022 | $61,120 | Actual |
| 2023 | $62,740 | Actual |
| 2024 | $68,880 | Actual |
| 2025 | $74,640 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $76,737 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $78,894 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the El Paso metropolitan area, the median occupational therapy assistant salary grew 36.0% from $54,880 (2019) to $74,640 (2025). At a 2.81% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $78,894 by 2027 — a total increase of $24,014 (43.76%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the El Paso 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) | $62,015 – $70,548 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $70,548 – $76,737 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $76,737 – $79,966 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $79,966 – $91,953 |
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 El Paso
With 130 occupational therapy assistants currently employed in El Paso, the area offers steady job opportunities for current and aspiring COTAs. The cost of living index sits at 89.912, below the national average, enhancing the purchasing power of salaries in the region. Among local employers, skilled nursing facilities and hospital inpatient rehabilitation programs tend to offer the highest pay, often driven by robust productivity requirements and the financial dynamics resulting from the 15% Medicare reimbursement cuts. To maximize earnings, COTAs in El Paso should consider developing skills to work effectively in high-demand areas, where challenges like weekend shifts and PRN positions can yield additional pay. Furthermore, exploring contracts in environments that provide lucrative incentives, such as home health agencies, can also enhance overall compensation.
More salary data for El Paso, TX:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make in El Paso, TX in 2026?
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Can occupational therapy assistants make $100K in El Paso?
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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 $74,640 for occupational therapy assistantsin the El Paso 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