Occupational Therapy Assistants pay range in Salem
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,040 or more. The middle half of occupational therapy assistants in Salem earn between $69,850 and $76,890.
- $66K10th
- $70K25th
- $77KMedian
- $77K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,410 | $6,284 | $36.25 |
| Median | $76,570 | $6,381 | $36.81 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $69,850 | $5,821 | $33.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $76,890 | $6,408 | $36.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Occupational Therapy Assistants pay in Salem vs. Oregon and the U.S.
Occupational therapy assistants in Salem earn about the same as the Oregon average ($76,610) and 7% more than the U.S. average ($70,710). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $72,300.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | $75,410 | $76,570 | $66,490 | $80,040 | 40 |
| Oregon | $76,610 | $76,850 | $65,190 | $86,010 | 250 |
| 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 Salem
On the average salary of $75,410, a single filer in Salem takes home about $56,519 a year, or $4,710 a month and $2,174 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Is Salem a good place for occupational therapy assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Salem area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $75,410 buys what about $72,755 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Salem ($55,310). A typical home costs $454,689, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in other Oregon cities
Salem ranks 2nd of 2 Oregon metro areas for this job; Portland pays the most ($78,380).
- Portland$78,380
- Salem$75,410
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Occupational Therapy Assistants salary in Salem: questions
How much do occupational therapy assistants make an hour in Salem?
$36.25 an hour on average, and $36.81 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level occupational therapy assistants salary in Salem?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $69,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the occupational therapy assistants take-home pay in Salem?
About $56,519 a year ($4,710 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,410. Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
Do occupational therapy assistants earn more in Salem than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% 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 Salem, OR (41420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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). Portland-area Metro and Multnomah County taxes and the 0.1% statewide transit tax are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.57, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.57).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.