Occupational Therapy Assistants pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,280 or more. The middle half of occupational therapy assistants in Hickory earn between $60,970 and $74,110.
- $53K10th
- $61K25th
- $63KMedian
- $74K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,430 | $5,452 | $31.46 |
| Median | $63,120 | $5,260 | $30.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $60,970 | $5,081 | $29.31 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,110 | $6,176 | $35.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Occupational Therapy Assistants pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Occupational therapy assistants in Hickory earn 6% less than the North Carolina average ($69,270) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($70,710). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $72,300.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $65,430 | $63,120 | $52,560 | $76,280 | 70 |
| North Carolina | $69,270 | $69,390 | $55,130 | $83,360 | 1,590 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $65,430, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $52,651 a year, or $4,388 a month and $2,025 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for occupational therapy assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $65,430 buys what about $73,944 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 10th of 10 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Raleigh pays the most ($74,360).
- Raleigh$74,360
- Greensboro$71,890
- Winston-Salem$71,180
- Charlotte$70,690
- Asheville$68,960
- Durham$68,460
- Greenville$68,380
- Wilmington$68,020
- Fayetteville$66,500
- Hickory$65,430
All Occupational Therapy Assistants salaries in North Carolina
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 Hickory: questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make an hour in Hickory?
$31.46 an hour on average, and $30.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level occupational therapy assistants salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $52,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $60,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the occupational therapy assistants take-home pay in Hickory?
About $52,651 a year ($4,388 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,430.
Do occupational therapy assistants earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.40, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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