Occupational Therapy Assistants pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $122,670 or more. The middle half of occupational therapy assistants in San Francisco earn between $87,350 and $105,920.
- $82K10th
- $87K25th
- $98KMedian
- $106K75th
- $123K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,250 | $8,271 | $47.72 |
| Median | $97,860 | $8,155 | $47.05 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $87,350 | $7,279 | $42.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $105,920 | $8,827 | $50.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Occupational Therapy Assistants pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Occupational therapy assistants in San Francisco earn 17% more than the California average ($84,690) and 40% more than the U.S. average ($70,710). At the median the gap is +35% against the U.S. median of $72,300.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $99,250 | $97,860 | $82,300 | $122,670 | 290 |
| California | $84,690 | $81,770 | $65,680 | $104,990 | 3,840 |
| United States | $70,710 | $72,300 | $51,490 | $89,780 | 51,290 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $99,250, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $73,514 a year, or $6,126 a month and $2,827 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for occupational therapy assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $99,250 buys what about $85,847 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 11.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 13 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Francisco$99,250
- San Jose$94,960
- Sacramento$92,750
- Modesto$92,640
- Bakersfield$91,880
- Stockton$88,330
- Santa Maria$87,450
- Oxnard$85,320
- San Diego$85,120
- Los Angeles$81,740
Highest-paying cities for occupational therapy assistants
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($99,250).
- San Francisco, CA$99,250
- San Jose, CA$94,960
- Sacramento, CA$92,750
- Modesto, CA$92,640
- Bakersfield, CA$91,880
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Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make an hour in San Francisco?
$47.72 an hour on average, and $47.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level occupational therapy assistants salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $87,350, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the occupational therapy assistants take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $73,514 a year ($6,126 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,250. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do occupational therapy assistants earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 40% more than the U.S. average for this job ($70,710).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-2011; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.36, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.36).
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